Bord na Mona unveils companies chosen for Offaly-based green mentoring programme

A COMPANY based in Tullamore and a business co-founded by a Coolderry man are among nine enterprises selected for Bord na Mona's 2025 Accelerate Green GROW Programme which aims to support Ireland's rising leaders in sustainability and climate action.

Circular Food Co (Biasol), which gives food waste a second life by turning spent grain from brewing into nutritious and sustainable food products operates in the former Carroll Meats premises on Church Road in Tullamore and is run by a brother and sister team from Athlone, Ruairi and Niamh Dooley.

After its establishment, Ruairi and Niamh first located their business in the Ferbane Food Campus before moving to the larger premises in Tullamore where they now employ 10 people.

Ruairi Dooley says that all the businesses he deals with are focused on sustainability and Circular Food Co's participation in the Accelerate Green GROW Programme will help the Offaly-based firm as it grows.

“Bord na Mona are experts in that sector and we're able to learn from them and get our messaging right and show our customers how we can help them meet their sustainability goals.”

The other innovative green enterprise with a strong Offaly connection chosen for the Bord na Mona mentorship programme is Watt Footprint, which is based in Mullingar and enables businesses to regain control over their energy usage.

Coolderry native Paul Mahon set Watt Footprint up along with Paul O'Reilly and after securing a multi-million euro investment in the past year the company is looking to scale up further and hopes the Accelerate Green GROW Programme will smooth the path to the next phase.

“We've secured the investment and we're growing very quickly and the big thing for us is that we want to grow correctly as well. And sustainably,” said Mr Mahon.

First introduced in 2022, Bord na Mona's Accelerate Green GROW Programme, delivered in conjunction with Resolve Partners, is designed to empower early-stage enterprises, SMEs, and start-ups driving transformative solutions for a greener future.

Bord na Mona said the initiative is a key element of its €5 million investment in fostering the growth of Ireland’s emerging green innovation network from 2022 to 2025.

The nine companies selected to participate in this year’s Accelerate Green GROW Programme include: The Planted Way, Novelplast, Circular Food Co, BioSense, Easydry, JTM Energy, Watt Footprint, Pulse Market and Plaswire.

The companies chosen to participate in this year’s programme are based throughout the island of Ireland and are all delivering unique sustainable solutions for businesses in Ireland and across the globe. These industries range from foodtech, circular economy solutions, biodiversity and AI.

As part of the programme, the nine companies will participate in an intensive eight-module series of immersive learning sessions and mentoring workshops at the dedicated Accelerate Green hub in Boora, Co Offaly.

They will engage with a wide range of industry experts, including representatives from enterprise and energy agencies, Irish corporates, research networks, and investors, while also benefiting from direct access to senior leaders within Bord na Móna.

Participants will gain valuable insights into Bord na Móna’s commercial expertise and its successful transformation from a traditional peat business to a leader in climate solutions and renewable energy.

Further to that, the nine companies will also have a platform to showcase their innovations to an audience of Bord na Móna personnel and key stakeholders, industry experts, investors and the greentech ecosystem at the Accelerate Green Conference that will take place on May 15 in Tullamore.

This cohort brings the number of Irish businesses who have successfully completed the programme since its launch in 2022 to 60 companies, with most alumni continuing to grow their offering of green products or services.

Many alumni businesses have also received prestigious industry awards, recognising their continued growth, innovative impact, and success.

Speaking in Boora at the launch of Accelerate Green GROW, Tom Donnellan, chief executive, Bord na Móna, said: “Each year I am more impressed by the calibre of companies we have joining the Accelerate Green GROW Programme, and this year is no different. I am delighted to welcome the nine companies joining the programme this year and wish them well as the work to grow and scale their businesses.

“As a company, we are continuously growing our renewable energy and climate solutions offering to adapt with the landscape, and this is down to the advancements and innovations we are exposed to by these inspiring organisations.

“The rollout of this programme is part of Bord na Mona’s €5 million commitment to support the growth of Ireland’s rising green innovator network between 2022 and 2025. We are playing our part in decarbonisation and driving an environmentally sustainable economy.”

The launch was also attended by Mairead McGuinness, former European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and the Capital Markets Union.

Ms McGuinness said: “It is a privilege to be here at the official launch of the 2025 Accelerate Green GROW Programme at Bord na Móna’s Accelerate Green Hub at Lough Boora. I would like to congratulate the nine businesses selected to take part in this year’s programme. The circular economy, sustainable and green initiatives are hugely important for the future proofing of our country, so highlighting and supporting businesses like these are crucial for our economy.”

“This programme is supporting the green innovators that will help us to meet these goals and shape a more sustainable future for our country. I would like to wish all the participants the very best as they begin this year’s programme.”

The Accelerate Green programme is supported with partial funding through the Bord na Móna led European Commission funded LIFE Integrated Project 'Peatlands and People' (Erinn Innovation), an initiative that aims to support the realisation of a carbon-neutral, climate-resistant and environmentally sustainable country.