Irish biotechnology company awarded the coveted Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) award for Excellence in Energy Research and Innovation

GlasPort Bio’s lead product in development is GasAbate. It is added to stored liquid manures and slurries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase biogas production following anaerobic digestion. Emissions from stored slurry account for approximately 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions. The GlasPort Bio product selectively targets particular microbes in the slurry preventing the production and release of these gases. Since the treated slurry is not releasing gases such as methane and ammonia, valuable nutrients such as carbon and  nitrogen are trapped in the manure locked into the slurry, making it a more valuable resource. GasAbate turns slurry from a perceived waste into a valuable resource. Stored manure can lose up to 50% of its renewable energy potential after a few days of storage. When treated with GasAbate, this slurry can produce up to 40% extra input in anaerobic digestion. This has major economic and environmental impacts for the AD sector and for Europe as a whole.

Dr. Ruairi Friel, CEO of GlasPort Bio, said that winning this award “will spur us on as we launch commercial beta testing of our product later this year.”

There were 26 finalists shortlisted for the 2021 SEAI Energy Awards with projects delivering combined energy savings of €41.5 million. A total of 10 awards were presented to individuals, businesses, communities and public sector organisations ‘in recognition of their commitment and dedication to sustainable energy and climate action”.