MEMBER PRESS RELEASE – Biogen acquires anaerobic digestion plant in South West England

Biogen acquires anaerobic digestion plant in South West England

Biogen, the anaerobic digestion portfolio platform led by Ancala Partners LLP (‘Ancala’), has acquired a 1.1MW operational anaerobic digestion facility located in Weston-super-Mare, England, from Enovert for an undisclosed sum.

The facility will be integrated into Ancala’s UK anaerobic digestion platform, Biogen, a leading owner and operator of anaerobic digestion plants in the UK.

The facility is an important component of a broader waste management and food recycling programme in the region, with discarded food waste collected from the local area as well as additional waste from local businesses. Methane gas is then produced and converted through a CHP engine that generates enough renewable green electricity to power approximately 2,000 homes. In addition, the facility converts food waste into a nutrient-rich biofertiliser.

Spence Clunie, Managing Partner, Ancala Partners LLP, commented: “The Weston-super-Mare facility is a high-quality asset serving an important community.  Its integration into our Biogen platform will mean it can benefit from resources and expertise of the team. This acquisition demonstrates our ability to secure add-on investments and promote businesses that benefit local communities.”

Adam Feneley, Managing Director, Biogen, commented: “This is an ideal addition to the Biogen portfolio and provides exposure to a new geographic region for the business.  We look forward to working in partnership with Enovert to improve recycling targets and increase renewable energy generation for the benefit of the local community and stakeholders.”

Mark Silvester, Chief Executive Officer, Enovert, commented: “Enovert are very proud of what we have achieved with the Weston-super-Mare anaerobic digestion facility, which we originally designed, built and operated. We are delighted with the sale to Biogen, an experienced operator of anaerobic digestion plants, and we look forward to developing a close working relationship with them post this transaction.

In May this year, Biogen was named Recycling Business of the Year at the Awards for Excellence in Recycling & Waste Management. The company also won the Organics Recycling Business of the Year award, marking a transformational period for the organisation.

The UK Government is preparing to roll-out the circular economy package, which would limit waste sent to landfills at 10% of total arisings and increase recycling rates to 65% by 2035 for all municipal waste. Anaerobic digestion is an important component in achieving these goals as it recycles food waste into environmentally friendly electricity, heat and fertiliser. Ancala actively supports this vision.

For more information, see the website: www.ancala.com or contact:

Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Patrick Evans / Stephen Sheppard / Will Easton
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7025 6518
Stephen.sheppard@citigatedewerogerson.com

Ancala Partners LLP
Spence Clunie, Managing Partner
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8059 0320
Email: spence.clunie@ancala.com

Ankur Ajmera, Senior Vice President
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8059 0320
Email: ankur.ajmera@ancala.com

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Notes to Editors

About Ancala Partners
Ancala Partners LLP is an independent infrastructure investment manager focused on delivering enhanced returns from mid-market infrastructure investments. It invests in and manages businesses across infrastructure sectors including utilities, energy, transportation, telecommunications and midstream. Ancala adopts a proactive approach to the origination and asset management of investments to create value for its investors.
For more information, please visit www.ancala.com.

About Biogen
Biogen was established in 2005 and completed its first anaerobic digestion plant in Bedfordshire in 2006. The company’s fourteen anaerobic digestion plants recycle around a half of a million tonnes of food waste each year. The portfolio also includes six organic composting sites. Biogen’s own environmental experts worked with the British Standards Institute (BSI), The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and the Renewable Energy Association (REA) to develop the national specification BSI PAS110 for bio-fertiliser produced from anaerobic digestion.  Biogen is the recipient of several industry awards and was named ‘Recycling Business of the Year’ at the 2019 Awards for Excellence in Recycling & Waste Management. Biogen’s head office is located at Milton Ernest, Bedfordshire.