The plant in Mehrum in Lower Saxony, Germany is already the third biomethane plant that BayWa r.e. is selling to Evergaz Deutschland GmbH, a joint venture comprising the France-based biogas project developer and operator Evergaz and MERIDIAM, an infrastructure investment firm. In 2015, BayWa r.e. took over the plant, which yields a total biomethane output of some 700 Nm³/h and 600 kW of electricity (CHP), and refurbished it comprehensively. After the sale, the company will remain responsible for the plant operation and for the raw materials management. That will also safeguard the collaboration with agricultural partners and allow it to be maintained in the long term.
"Collaborating with Evergaz and Meridiam once again is to our benefit in two regards," explains Christian Bracklow, Managing Director at BayWa r.e. Bioenergy GmbH. "On the one hand, the successful sale proves yet again that project-financed biomethane plants are attractive in the long term as high-yielding investments. On the other hand, it testifies to the high quality of our services portfolio and the customer satisfaction we enjoy."
The plant in Mehrum was commissioned in 2012 and had changed owners several times before BayWa r.e. took it over at the end of 2015. The company initiated further investments in the order of some EUR two million. In the course of the resulting upgrading work, a new fermentation residue storage tank was installed and the gas storage capacities were expanded, among other things. In addition, various quality improvement measures were implemented. On completion of the refurbishment, the fermentation line will yield approximately 70 m kWh of energy per year. Just under 90 percent will be fed into the Avacon gas grid as biomethane. That corresponds to the amount of gas consumed by around 3,000 households.
"After the acquisition of the two biomethane plants in Pessin and Dessau in 2017, and the partnership with Meridiam in 2018, we are pleased to continue our development in Europe" says Frédéric Flipo, Evergaz Managing Director. "With this acquisition, Evergaz demonstrates its desire to pursue its development in Germany which is the most mature biogas market in Europe. To achieve this strategy, Evergaz intends to rely on local key German partners, with recognised know-how, such as BayWa r.e."
Evergaz is a reference biogas operator in Europe that develops numerous projects, and currently owns and operates ten biogas plants in Germany, France and Belgium.
About BayWa r.e. renewable energy GmbH (BayWa r.e.):
As a full subsidiary of the BayWa AG, BayWa r.e. renewable energy GmbH groups together the activities of the solar energy, wind energy, bioenergy and geothermal energy business units. With headquarters in Munich, BayWa r.e. is active worldwide. As a full-service partner with over 1,400 employees and more than 25 years of market experience, BayWa r.e. provides consulting services and develops, implements and manages projects in the area of renewable energy. The company also undertakes plant operation and maintenance. Other business activities encompass photovoltaic component trade and the purchase and marketing of energy from renewable sources.
Its parent company, the BayWa AG, is an international trade and services company with the core segments of agriculture, energy and building materials.
www.baywa-re.com
Contact:
Felix Gmelin - felix.gmelin@baywa-re.com - +49 (0)89 383932 5817
About Evergaz:
As an integrated operator specialising in biogas production and usage development, Evergaz develops, owns and operates a portfolio of biogas production plants. Created in 2008 as Holding Verte under the initiative of AQUA, investor-accelerator in the environment and energy sector, Evergaz supports and brings together territorial stakeholders - farmers, industrial companies and public authorities - to provide a sustainable organic waste management and treatment solution while producing green energy as well as a natural fertiliser.
Evergaz intends to develop its biogas plants portfolio in the coming years, to achieve by 2022 an objective of 120 million Nm3 annual biomethane energy production, 64MWel. installed capacity and the treatment of more than 1 million metric tons of waste per year.
Committed to developing the French biogas industry, Evergaz is a founding member of Biogaz Vallée® and France Biométhane. Evergaz is run by Alain Planchot, CEO, and Frédéric Flipo, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and co-founder. Evergaz is an independent company, majority owned by its management team, AQUA and Meridiam.
Find out more on: www.evergaz.com
Contact:
Thierry Del Jésus - thierrydeljesus@rumeurpublique.fr - +33 (0)1 55 74 84 92
Antoine Bolcato - antoine.bolcato@rumeurpublique.fr - +33 (0)1 55 74 84 91 / +33 (0)7 77 14 61 97
About Meridiam:
Created in 2005 by Thierry Déau, Meridiam is an independent investment firm specialising in the development, financing and management of long-term, sustainable public infrastructure projects. Its business model is underpinned by the belief that the alignment of interests between the public and the private sector can provide key solutions to the needs of the community. With offices in Paris, New York, Toronto,
Luxembourg, Istanbul, Vienna, Addis Ababa and Dakar, Meridiam manages assets worth 6 billion and has more than 60 projects under development, construction or operation to date.
Find out more on: www.meridiam.com
Contact:
Armelle de Selancy - adeselancy@meridiam.com - +33 (0)1 44 51 72 41
November 22, 2024
