Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners has – through its CI Advanced Bioenergy Fund I (CI ABF I) – acquired the biogas project Envo Biogas in Tønder, Denmark from Anaergia, a company based in Canada that develops large-scale facilities that convert organic waste to renewable fuels and electricity. The transaction marks the first investment of CI ABF I and is a major milestone for the fund, which aims to develop and construct projects across Europe and North America that produce green gas and green fuels from organic waste, contributing to the decarbonization of the hard-to-abate sectors as well as the security of gas supply. The financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed.
Anaergia acquired the development project in 2021, finalized the development and achieved first gas on the plant on 15 November 2022. Once the full capacity of the plant has been commissioned – expected by 2025 – it will be one of the largest biogas plants in Europe, converting approximately 900.000 tons of green sustainable feedstock – agricultural and industrial organic waste – into approximately 40m. Nm3 of renewable natural gas. The gas is injected into the existing natural gas grid, thus displacing fossil gas. Additionally, the plant will produce biogenic CO2 that will be used at European Energy’s power-to-X facility under construction at the nearby Kassø facility, thereby contributing to the production of green fuel (e-methanol) for shipping. After harvesting the green energy the remaining organic material will be recirculated as nutrients (fertilizer) for agriculture production in the region.
Thomas Dalsgaard, Partner in CIP says: “We are very pleased to have made our first investment into a large-scale and modern biogas project in Denmark, creating not just green energy, but also jobs and investments in the local community. It was a great achievement by Anaergia to reach first gas in November 2022, and we look forward to working with local stakeholders, farmers and suppliers – and to continue the construction of the plant that once in full operations will make a significant contribution to the green transition in the municipality of Tønder and in Denmark.”
