Medite Smartply is investing in a new 55MW biomass energy plant at its medium-density fibreboard (MDF) manufacturing facility in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, as part of a major programme to modernise its production infrastructure and reduce carbon emissions.

Reported by Lesprom Network, the project will see the installation of a new biomass firing system supplied by Dieffenbacher alongside the deployment of the company's EVORIS digitalisation platform to enhance operational performance across the site.

The new energy system will replace two ageing energy plants currently serving the facility and will eliminate the use of natural gas for onsite energy generation. Once operational, the installation will support the production requirements of the plant's 400,000 cubic metre annual MDF manufacturing line.

The biomass system will provide 20MW of process steam, 25MW of flue gas for drying operations and 6MW of thermal oil for the continuous press system, supporting multiple stages of the manufacturing process from a single integrated energy solution.

The project also includes engineering, equipment supply, installation and system integration while maintaining ongoing production at the facility. A dedicated wet-fuel handling system will also be introduced to provide greater flexibility in biomass fuel sourcing.

Construction is scheduled to begin in February 2027, with commissioning expected approximately one year later.

The investment reflects a broader trend across Ireland's manufacturing sector, where industrial businesses are increasing capital expenditure on renewable energy infrastructure to improve operational efficiency, strengthen energy resilience and support long-term decarbonisation objectives.

The Clonmel investment further demonstrates how manufacturers are using major infrastructure upgrades to enhance production capability while supporting wider sustainability targets and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.