Foresight expansion continues with Isle of Wight AD purchase

Foresight has announced the purchase of the 2.5MW anaerobic digestion (AD) plant on the Isle of Wight, a move the company says demonstrates its ‘appetite’ to aggregate operational AD assets.  

Located in Arreton, the 24 acre site that converts biogas to biomethane has been purchased by Foresight in a multi-million pound deal. Having already established a market leading position in anaerobic digestion, Foresight will now be adding another UK AD plant to its portfolio of renewable energy sites.

At present, the company has 20 greenfield and operational AD plants across the UK, as well as a further five in Germany. Foresight’s Charlie Sheldon said on the purchase, “We are delighted to have completed the acquisition of this operational AD plant, our first on the Isle of Wight, which comprises the latest component in our growing AD portfolio. We look forward to making further acquisitions as part of our wider AD aggregation strategy.”

Built in 2014 by Wight Energy, the plant at Gore Cross in Arreton is capable of turning over 50,000 tonnes of energy crops into biomethane. When turned into biomethane, energy crops, maize, grass and whole crop silage all have the same quality as natural gas, enabling them to be used by the Island’s existing gas networks.

BCM acquired the planning permission for the site in November 2013 and has been involved with the project from the very start. Partner in BCM as well as Wight Farm Energy, James Attrill told the Isle of Wight County Press:, “this AD plant is a major cornerstone to the Island’s renewable energy mix – the Foresight Group are significant AD investors and saw the potential of this successful gas grid as a great addition to their portfolio.”