Major investment firm Macquarie acquires UK AD company
Macquarie Capital Principal Finance (Macquarie) – the largest infrastructure investor in the world - has completed the majority acquisition of BioCow, a leading producer and innovator in the UK biogas sector. BioCow uses anaerobic digestion (AD) to create energy from agricultural waste by producing biomethane, which can be used to heat homes and businesses or as a green transport fuel.
BioCow will use Macquarie’s investment to expand its operations in Cambridgeshire and to support the completion of the UK’s first biomethane injection point into the national grid. The gas connection forms part of a pilot project with National Grid to develop innovative solutions to reduce the time and cost associated with connecting to the high-pressure transmission grid.
“We have followed the development of anaerobic digestion in Europe for several years, looking for the right operating partner to scale this carbon-neutral energy technology,” said Patrick Ottersbach, managing director at Macquarie. “We are excited to work with BioCow to develop its platform and contribute to the UK’s energy transition.”
Derek Bourgoyne, co-founder and director of BioCow, said: “We started BioCow to produce biomethane on farms in an environmentally and economically sustainable manner. In Macquarie, we have found a financially strong partner with world-leading expertise in renewable energy and infrastructure. We are excited to partner together to develop anaerobic digestion into a mainstream gas source in the UK and meet growing demand for carbon neutral gas for heating and transport.”
Macquarie, which began operations more than 30 years ago, has invested and arranged more than £40 billion (€46.8 billion) in infrastructure projects since 2005. Its investment in BioCow comes amid growing demand for green gas.
BioCow will use Macquarie’s investment to expand its operations in Cambridgeshire and to support the completion of the UK’s first biomethane injection point into the national grid. The gas connection forms part of a pilot project with National Grid to develop innovative solutions to reduce the time and cost associated with connecting to the high-pressure transmission grid.
“We have followed the development of anaerobic digestion in Europe for several years, looking for the right operating partner to scale this carbon-neutral energy technology,” said Patrick Ottersbach, managing director at Macquarie. “We are excited to work with BioCow to develop its platform and contribute to the UK’s energy transition.”
Derek Bourgoyne, co-founder and director of BioCow, said: “We started BioCow to produce biomethane on farms in an environmentally and economically sustainable manner. In Macquarie, we have found a financially strong partner with world-leading expertise in renewable energy and infrastructure. We are excited to partner together to develop anaerobic digestion into a mainstream gas source in the UK and meet growing demand for carbon neutral gas for heating and transport.”
Macquarie, which began operations more than 30 years ago, has invested and arranged more than £40 billion (€46.8 billion) in infrastructure projects since 2005. Its investment in BioCow comes amid growing demand for green gas.
