Biogen acquires five AD plants from Ingenious

Biogen has acquired five operational anaerobic digestion (AD) plants from the asset management company Ingenious Group for an undisclosed fee, expanding its AD portfolio in the UK to 19 facilities.

Two of the facilities are located in Inverness, Scotland, which the other three are located in Colchester, Northampton and Nottinghamshire.  

Biogen works with supermarkets, the hospitality industry, food manufacturers, farmers and local authorities to source and process organic waste at its facilities. Biogen’s existing network of 14 plants has a total capacity of 26.8 MWe and processes more than a tenth of the UK’s food waste.

Following the acquisition, Biogen said its electrical equivalent capacity will rise to circa 36 MWe and enable it to generate over 300,000 MWh green energy per year. This is enough energy to supply more than 100,000 average households with electricity per year.  

Ruby Jones, chief executive of Biogen, said:

“This acquisition is an attractive addition to the Biogen portfolio. The plants provide Biogen with further exposure to renewable gas to grid technology, increasing our role as a producer of renewable energy in the UK and further supporting the nation’s 2050 net zero target. We look forward to working with the new plants and their respective local partners.  

“The Ancala team’s expertise has been crucial to delivering this transaction, along with our broader expansion plans.”

Ankur Ajmera partner at Ancala Partners, added: 

“This transaction further builds on Biogen’s position as a leading operator in the UK’s anaerobic digestion sector. We are working closely with Biogen’s management team to deploy green gas to grid capacity across its network and are actively seeking new acquisition opportunities to further expand Biogen’s footprint.”

The acquisition was funded by infrastructure investor Ancala Partners’ new Growth Fund.  

Ancala acquired Biogen in 2017 (see letsrecycle.com story) and has since completed four acquisitions, “optimised performance at its existing plants, and more than doubled its revenue to almost £50m in its most recent financial year”.

Ancala said it “continues to support Biogen’s growth plans to acquire additional operational green energy plants and invest in technologies that enable the business to inject green gas directly into the UK gas grid, supporting the decarbonisation of the national gas network”.  

The plants included in the deal are:

• Wester Kerrowgair Farm, Inverness, Scotland
• Tornagrain, Inverness, Scotland
• Fairfields, Colchester
• Manor Farm, Northampton
• Stragglethorpe, Nottinghamshire