Alexion to power Athlone site with 100% renewable biomethane

Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease, has announced a 15-year biomethane purchase agreement to power its Athlone site entirely with renewable energy.

This move makes Alexion the first pharmaceutical company in Ireland to adopt biomethane for all heating needs.

The biomethane will be sourced from a new anaerobic digestion facility in Duleek, Co. Meath, around 120km from Athlone.

The facility will supply at least 32GWh of energy annually, helping Alexion reduce CO2 emissions by 5,800 tonnes per year.

The project also supports sustainable farming by returning nutrient-rich by-products to local farmland.

This agreement is part of AstraZeneca’s Ambition Zero Carbon initiative and will contribute to Ireland’s National Biomethane Strategy. Construction of the Duleek facility is expected to be completed in 2026.