BuJo becomes first Irish restaurant to cook meals using renewable gas.
Chef-led by Culinary director Gráinne O’Keefe, BuJo has outlets in Sandymount and Terenure and is the first Irish restaurant to cook its meals using renewable gas supplied through the national gas network.
The renewable gas, known as biomethane, is a carbon neutral gas being produced from farm and food waste by Green Generation in Nurney, Co. Kildare, and injected into the national gas network via a dedicated renewable gas entry point in Cush, Co. Kildare.
“The flame is at the very heart of BuJo as our burgers are chargrilled over fire, so we feel very privileged to be the first that can now say that those flames are powered by renewable gas”
Gas Networks Ireland first introduced domestically produced biomethane into Ireland’s gas network in small volumes in 2019, via the country’s first renewable gas injection point in Cush and the company is currently preparing to build a second injection facility in Mitchelstown, Co Cork.
Green gas
“From the outset, we have endeavoured to make BuJo as sustainable as possible and I am really excited that we’re now using gas from renewable sources that has been produced here in Ireland,” O’Keefe said.
“The flame is at the very heart of BuJo as our burgers are chargrilled over fire, so we feel very privileged to be the first that can now say that those flames are powered by renewable gas. Switching to biomethane means an even further reduction in our carbon footprint, which is great news for BuJo, for our guests, for our team and most importantly, for the environment.”
Sustainability has been central to the development of BuJo and the company is committed to high levels of community stewardship across its entire operation. BuJo sources its bespoke blend of grass-fed beef and free-range chicken from Bord Bia ‘Quality Assured’ & ‘Origin Green’ certified Irish family farms and all of its packaging is compostable. It is the only burger focussed restaurant in Ireland and the UK to achieve a 3-Star rating from the Sustainable Restaurant Association.
BuJo has won several sustainability awards since its inception in 2017 including the Food Made Good ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ award presented to O’Keefe by Raymond Blanc in London. The business was previously a recipient of the Pakman ‘Food Waste Management’ award for creating a sustainable menu that eliminates unnecessary packaging waste, introducing 100% compostable packaging, and for its exceptional recycling of 95% of food waste to energy.
Gas Networks Ireland’s Large Industrial and Commercial Sales manager, Sean Crowley, said there has been significant growth in demand from businesses looking to source sustainable and indigenous fuel alternatives:
“We are very excited to be able to transport biomethane to BuJo through our gas network. Cleaner carbon neutral renewable gas will help Ireland reduce its reliance on imported fossil fuels and help to decarbonise Irish homes, businesses, transport and supply chains.
“Using biomethane requires minimal investment in new infrastructure, as it can be transported through the existing gas network, which is one of the safest and most modern gas networks in Europe.By gradually replacing natural gas with renewable and carbon neutral gases such as biomethane and hydrogen, businesses like Bujo can be powered by increasingly cleaner energy.”
