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Future Biogas
UKUtilities
Overview
Future Biogas is one of the largest anaerobic digestion (AD) plant developers and biogas producers in the UK. It owns stakes in and operates nine AD plants and operates an additional three AD plants under medium-long term contracts.
Future Biogas’s plants convert a wide range of feedstocks into clean and renewable energy through AD which produces biogas. Biogas can either be used to generate green electricity, or upgraded into biomethane and injected into the UK’s national gas network. Future Biogas produces approximately 700GWh of biogas per year across 12 sites.
Biomethane from AD is a ready-to-use and commercially viable solution for hard to decarbonise industrial sectors. It does not require any upgrade to the existing UK gas infrastructure. Energy produced by AD plants is carbon neutral, as the CO2 released during the process matches the CO2 absorbed from the atmosphere by the feedstock.
Future Biogas promotes a regenerative farming approach, sustainably integrating feedstock from energy crops into agricultural systems. The circular process of returning digestate back to land can help replenish soil nutrients and carbon and displaces demand for carbon intensive artificial fertilisers.
Recent developments
Future Biogas performed ahead of expectations, driven by higher average gas prices and strong production volumes.
In August 2024, the company acquired a 51% stake in a portfolio of six gas-to-grid AD plants from JLEN Environmental Assets Group Limited (‘JLEN’). This investment has increased the operational scale of the company and was an important milestone.
In September 2024, we syndicated a 23% stake in Future Biogas to RWE Energy Transition Investments (‘RWE’) for proceeds of £30 million. RWE brings extensive experience in the broader energy sector, and its investment endorses the potential of the platform and the strategy we are pursuing.
In January 2025, the company completed construction of the Gonerby Moor site, further expanding its operational scale. The site has a 15-year offtake agreement with AstraZeneca for the green gas produced.
In March 2025, we completed a refinancing on favourable terms, increasing the company’s debt capacity to support future growth.
Sustainability
Future Biogas agreed a partnership with AstraZeneca to establish the UK’s first unsubsidised industrial-scale supply of biomethane gas. Energy from the biomethane facility will supply AstraZeneca’s sites in Macclesfield, Cambridge, Luton and Speke with 100 gigawatt hours (GWh) per year, equivalent to the heat demands of over 8,000 homes. Once operational in early 2025, the partnership will reduce emissions by an estimated 20,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent ‘(tCO2e)’, adding renewable energy capacity to the national gas grid.
Key facts12 AD plants with 1 additional plant under construction+500GWh of biogas produced per yearPromotes sustainable farming practicesLargest producer of biomethane in the UKDeal teamTim Short
Partner
UK / InfrastructureYaad Virdee
Director
UK / InfrastructureNeel Mistry
Associate Director
UK / InfrastructureCharlie Rees
Associate
UK / Infrastructure