Future Biogas acquires six anaerobic digestion facilities from JLEN

As the global  quest to generate renewable or cleaner fuels across the spectrum is rising steadily, Jersey-incorporated ‘3i Infrastructure plc’ has announced that Future Biogas, has agreed to acquire 51% of a portfolio of six gas-to-grid AD facilities, with a combined gas output of 333GWh, from JLEN Environmental Assets Group Limited (JLEN). Future Biogas is one of the largest anaerobic digestion (“AD”) plant developers and biogas producers in the UK.

The acquisition by Future Biogas is pegged at £68.1 million. £30 million will be funded by 3i Infrastructure, with the balance funded by Future Biogas from committed debt facilities.

The official statement held that the Future Biogas is very familiar with these assets, having originally developed five of the six plants as well as operating each for an average of eight years. As majority owner, Future Biogas will be able to deliver investment-led enhancements already identified by the management team. The acquisition also provides Future Biogas with immediate scale, which 3i expects to be attractive to potential acquirers when it decides to exit.

In line with the company’s original investment thesis, since 3i Infrastructure first invested in Future Biogas in 2023, the company has successfully transitioned from being a third-party plant operator to an asset owner and developer, with a 1.3TWh pipeline of new sites.

Construction has also begun at the Gonerby Moor site, which, as previously announced, will operate on an unsubsidised basis under a 15-year green gas offtake agreement with AstraZeneca.

Philipp Lukas, Chief Executive Officer of Future Biogas, said, “We know the assets well having developed them and managed them for an average of eight years. The transaction is a key step in building a scalable AD platform under Future Biogas, enabling us to upgrade the plant portfolio and extend their lives beyond the current RHI subsidy. Critically, it provides a means to continue to deliver under our Project Carbon Harvest mission to generate and supply green gas, helping decarbonise UK farms and industry.”

Scott Moseley and Bernardo Sottomayor, Managing Partners, 3i Investments plc, added, “It is increasingly clear that biogas will play an important role within the UK’s energy transition. This acquisition represents an important milestone, clearly establishing Future Biogas as the leading independent owner and developer of AD plants in the UK.”