Biogen acquires five AD plants

Bedfordshire, United Kingdom-based Biogen has acquired five operational anaerobic digestion (AD) plants from the asset management company Ingenious Group, London, for an undisclosed fee, expanding its AD portfolio to 19 facilities in the U.K.

Following the acquisition, Biogen says its electrical equivalent capacity will rise to approximately 36 megawatts (MW) and enable it to generate over 300,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of green energy per year, enough to supply more than 100,000 average households with electricity annually.

“This acquisition is an attractive addition to the Biogen portfolio,” Biogen CEO Ruby Jones says. “The plants provide Biogen with further exposure to renewable gas to grid technology, increasing our role as a producer of renewable energy in the U.K. 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 acquisition was funded by London-based infrastructure investor Ancala Partners’ new Growth Fund.

“This transaction further builds on Biogen’s position as a leading operator in the U.K.’s anaerobic digestion sector,” says Ankur Ajmera, a partner at Ancala. “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.”

Biogen works with supermarkets, the hospitality industry, food manufacturers, farmers and local authorities to source and process organic waste at its facilities.

Two of the newly acquired facilities are in Inverness, Scotland, with the other three in Colchester, Northampton and Nottinghamshire respectively.