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MEMBER PRESS RELEASE – Glanua acquires Marches Biogas

MEMBER PRESS RELEASE – Glanua acquires Marches Biogas

  • Acquisition of engineering and services company is central to Ireland-based Glanua’s ambitious growth strategy
  • Further expands Glanua’s UK operations following acquisition of Aqua Operations in 2024
  • Positions Glanua as a specialist in the design, construction and operation of anaerobic digestion (AD) and biogas plants

16th January 2024:  Glanua, a leading engineering company, has today announced that it has acquired UK-based Marches Biogas, an engineering and services firm that specialises in anaerobic digestion and biogas production.

Glanua is an industry leader in the municipal and industrial sectors in providing innovative and sustainable engineering solutions to design, build and deliver critical water, wastewater and energy infrastructure across the UK and Ireland.

Front left to right: Karl Zimmerer, Group Managing Director of Glanua, Mark Pugh, Director at Marches Biogas, Keith Hayward, Managing Director of Glanua Industrial, Keith Knight, Director at Marches BiogasThe financial details of the sale remain undisclosed, but the acquisition marks another significant step forward in Glanua’s ambitious growth plan.

It now positions the Galway-headquartered Glanua as a specialist in the design, construction, and operation of anaerobic digestion and biogas plants, significantly enhancing Glanua’s expertise, broadening its customer base, and expanding its capabilities and services into the bioresource sector by transforming wastewater and biomass sludge into a valuable energy resource.

Anaerobic Digestion (AD) is a sustainable, low-carbon technology complementing both the wastewater and bioresource sectors. Maximising the benefits of AD is increasingly important to businesses with biomass treatment requirements because it efficiently reduces organic waste, lowers energy costs, and generates renewable biogas, aligning with sustainability and cost-saving goals.

Founded in 2009, Shropshire-based Marches Biogas was acquired by its management and employees in 2020. The company recorded sales of £6million in 2023 and employs 27 people. Its acquisition means Glanua’s workforce has now increased to over 600
The purchase is the second acquisition to be completed by Glanua in the last six months. The company acquired UK-based Aqua Operations in August of last year in a move that increased its presence in the UK’s water and wastewater industry. Of the Group’s 600 employees, 130 are now UK-based.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) plants produce biogas from organic feedstocks such as sludge from wastewater treatment plants, food waste, animal slurry and manures as well as waste and by-products from agro-industries.

Marches Biogas has extensive experience in the design, construction, installation, training, operation and maintenance of AD (and biogas) plants. It has built over 30 AD plants ranging from 50kWe to large-scale facilities utilising feedstocks including energy crops, farm slurries, food and industrial wastes.

The company works on biomass treatment projects across the UK and internationally in the municipal and industrial sectors. It provides tailored advice, training and maintenance packages for plants it has constructed and those built by third parties.

There are over 550 AD plants in the UK with many in existence for over 10 years. Glanua believes this represents an opportunity for upgrade as well as modernisation works to intensify the existing digestion process through innovative technology which will maximise resource recovery.

The acquisition comes after Glanua recently announced it had received significant funding from Rabobank to support its continuing expansion. It also follows a period of growth for Glanua in the past 18 months following the rebranding of the company to Glanua in July 2023.

Total revenue in Glanua amounted to €97m in 2022 and increased to €150 million in 2023. The Group’s long-term strategic plan is to grow turnover to €400 million by 2028.
The Group is undergoing significant expansion and recently opened four new offices across Ireland and the UK in Belfast, Cork, Reading and London. Glanua’s clients include Uisce Éireann, Thames Water, Yorkshire Water, Northern Ireland Water, Kerry Group, Glanbia and ABP.

Karl Zimmerer, Group Managing Director of Glanua, said: “We are very pleased to announce the acquisition of Marches Biogas and look forward to integrating the business into the expanding Glanua Group. Marches Biogas is a leader in anaerobic digestion and biogas technologies and has a strong reputation as a provider of high-quality and innovative engineering solutions. This acquisition strengthens our position in the UK and aligns with our growth strategy and our sustainability goals. It expands our capabilities, broadens our customer base, and enables us to better serve industrial clients who increasingly require anaerobic digestion solutions, while also opening the door to new opportunities in the municipal market. This acquisition highlights our commitment to advancing the circular economy by transforming organic waste into renewable energy through anaerobic digestion technologies. It also enhances our ability to support clients in achieving sustainability goals with better waste management and energy recovery solutions.

Keith Knight, Director at Marches Biogas said: “We are pleased to be joining Glanua and excited about the opportunity of working alongside our new colleagues in an expanding and ambitious company. Marches Biogas has a long history of providing excellent anaerobic digestion and biogas engineering technologies and services and we look forward to both continuing to serve our existing clients and growing our client base within the Glanua Group. There are increasing opportunities in our field of expertise, and we are now well-positioned to work closely with our clients to help them achieve their sustainability goals.

-ENDS-

About Marches Biogas
Marches Biogas is a specialist anaerobic digestion (AD) and biogas engineering company with extensive experience of plant design, construction, installation, training, operation and maintenance from years of working within the biowaste and agricultural AD industry. Founded in 2009, the company has built over 30 anaerobic digestion plants, ranging from 50 kWe to large scale facilities utilising feedstocks including energy crops, farm slurries, food, and industrial wastes. The business undertakes AD and biogas new build, reengineering and design projects across the municipal and industrial sectors in the UK, the US, Europe, and the rest of world.

About Glanua
Glanua is an industry leader in providing innovative and sustainable engineering solutions to design, build and deliver critical water, wastewater and energy infrastructure across the UK and Ireland. Glanua is passionate about solving today’s environmental challenges and delivering a decarbonised and sustainable world. Headquartered in Galway, Ireland, with bases throughout the country, the Group employs over 600 people, with a manufacturing facility in Navan, Co Meath and offices in London, and across the UK. Glanua is the go-to partner for major water utilities in Ireland and the UK in the municipal sector. and in the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, biopharma and distillery industries. In 2023, the company underwent a rebrand, consolidating its activities under the Glanua brand.

  • We are one of Ireland’s leading water and wastewater engineering contractors, and we’ve been making significant strides in expanding our presence in the UK.
  • In August, we acquired UK-based Aqua Operations. Aqua Operations are based in Leeds and a rapidly growing provider of industrial operations and maintenance solutions in the water sector achieving revenues of £15 million within just four years of business. This acquisition is part of our broader strategy to double our business in the UK within the next five years. If you’re interested in reading more https://glanua.com/news/glanua-acquires-aqua-operations-boosting-its-uk-presence-and-expanding-its-industrial-division/
  • To support this growth, we have recently secured strategic funding from Rabobank and are actively expanding our operations. We are working closely with Thames Water on the Wastewater Asset Assurance Programme and have been awarded our first contract under United Utilities’ AMP8 capital investment programme. We have just this week been appointed to Yorkshire Water’sAMP8 Complex Non-Infrastructure Framework
  • We’ve also expanded our UK presence with new offices in Reading and Hertfordshire and strengthened our leadership team with key appointments. Phil Muir, our new Municipal Operations Director (UK), and Keith Hayward, our new Managing Director for Industrial, both bringing a wealth of experience from the water sector to drive our ambitious plans.
  • We are also an active member of British Water and our Director of Group Development, Paul Gardner was appointed Chair of the UK forum in July 2024. https://glanua.com/news/british-water-announces-paul-gardner-group-development-director-as-new-uk-forum-chair/
  • We have a very ambitious growth strategy to expand our business to €400 million in the next 5 years. We had a successful 2023, increasing our turnover 50% to €150m and a team expansion of over 160 people.

For further information, contact:

Ann Mahony
Marketing and Communications Manager
Address: Railway House, Station Road, Loughrea, Co. Galway, H62 VN56
Mobile: +353 (0) 87 188 2505
Email: amahony@glanua.com
www.glanua.com

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