MEMBER’S PRESS RELEASE: Consolidation in the biogas industry: Nature Energy acquires Xergi

Two of Denmark's leading biogas companies combine their competences through Schouw & Co. and Hedeselskabet’s divestment of Xergi to Nature Energy, thus creating one strong Danish company that will construct, own and operate biogas plants in Denmark and abroad. 

The largest producer of biogas in Denmark, Nature Energy, has acquired Xergi from Schouw & Co. and Hedeselskabet. Xergi is one of Europe's leading suppliers of turnkey biogas plants and is now combining its competences with another of Denmark's leading biogas companies:  

– Denmark has unique expertise when it comes to circular economy, and biogas production is circular economy at its best. We're extremely pleased that we've managed to conclude an agreement to incorporate Xergi's strong competences in Nature Energy to create one strong Danish biogas company of international class that will contribute to realising the growth potential of the circular economy, both in Denmark and abroad, says Peter Gæmelke, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nature Energy.
 
Nature Energy owns and operates seven biogas plants and has in recent years acquired expertise in developing and operating large-scale biogas plants. Xergi has more than 30 years of experience in designing and constructing biogas plants around the world. The possibility of combining the competences of the two companies has been the main driver for the two Xergi owners, Schouw & Co. and Hedeselskabet, in their choice of a new owner: 
 
– We entered the biogas market at a rather early stage, in the full knowledge that we were investing in a relatively immature industry. This has now changed, and we believe that Nature Energy is the perfect owner in terms of taking Xergi even further. Xergi and Nature Energy have for several years been among the driving forces behind the development of the Danish biogas sector. The two companies now merging into one strong company offers entirely new opportunities for the employees in both Xergi and Nature Energy, says Jens Bjerg Sørensen, President of Schouw & Co.
 
Xergi currently has a total of 80 employees in its head office in Støvring in Northern Jutland and in its sales offices in France, the United Kingdom and Japan. The 80 employees will continue to work from Støvring and the international sales offices. The company will become part of the Nature Energy group, which comprises seven biogas plants and a head office in Odense. 
 
– Xergi is characterised by strong leadership and extremely skilled employees, but if the company is to really develop in the coming years, it needs to be part of something bigger. We believe that Xergi together with Nature Energy can combine their expertise to create continued growth and development, says Lars Johansson, President and CEO of Hedeselskabet. 
 
Following the acquisition of Xergi, Nature Energy will have a total of 200 employees.
 
Export potential of DKK 16 billion
Danish exports of biogas technologies are expected to increase significantly towards 2030. An analysis made by Damvad Analytics shows that in this sector, up to 20,000 new jobs will be created in Denmark and an annual positive contribution of DKK 16 billion will be made to GDP. The acquisition of Xergi will help realise this potential: 
 
– If Denmark is to have as large a share of the European potential as possible, we need to be razor-sharp. Therefore, we are bringing together Denmark's strongest competencies in one company to prepare for international growth. At the same time, we continue to realise our planned projects in Denmark by exploiting Xergi's competences. This is important as a strong domestic market is a prerequisite for international growth, says Ole Hvelplund, CEO of Nature Energy.  
 
Facts about biogas: 

Biogas is produced by converting food waste and semi-liquid manure into green gas. Once the green gas has been transmitted into the gas grid, the residues from the gas production, i.e. the degassed semi-liquid manure and food waste, are spread on the surrounding fields in the form of green manure used to produce new foods. This way, the circle is closed. 
 
About Nature Energy: 

Nature Energy was founded in 1979 under the name of Naturgas Fyn. Today, Nature Energy is Europe's largest producer of green biogas for the gas grid. The company owns and operates seven biogas plants and currently has a production capacity of more than 100 million m3, corresponding to approx. 5 per cent of the green gas in the European gas grid.  
 
About Xergi: 

Xergi designs and constructs turnkey biogas plants. Based on more than 30 years of experience, the company has developed plant concepts that are flexible, robust, reliable and easy to operate. Schouw & Co. and Hedeselskabet established Xergi in 2004 to replace Hedeselskabet's DDH Contractors and Schouw & Co.'s Dansk Biogas. Since then, the two companies have each held a 50 per cent ownership share.
With more than 70 biogas plants on its list of references, Xergi has extensive expertise in all the fields within biology, chemistry, engineering science, procurement and finances required to ensure the success of a biogas project. The company's list of references includes biogas plants in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Denmark and a number of other European countries.
 
 
For further information, please contact: 

Jens Bjerg Sørensen, President of Schouw & Co., on tel. + 45 8611 2222

Lars Johansson, President and CEO of Hedeselskabet on tel. + 45 3070 1181

Peter Gæmelke, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nature Energy on tel. + 45 4017 5287

Ole Hvelplund, CEO of Nature Energy on tel. + 45 4018 7767