With this operation, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners takes another step in its roadmap and formalizes the purchase of its first biogas plant in the United KingdomThe acquisition, channeled through the CI Advanced Bioenergy Fund I, marks CIP's entry into the British renewable gas market at a time of clear European commitment to biomethane.
The facility is located in Northwich and belonged to Ørsted. It currently combines the pre-treatment of municipal solid waste with a biogas plant that supplies electricity to the grid. CIP will promote a comprehensive reconversion to align it with its advanced bioenergy strategy and maximize renewable gas production.
What the operation includes
The acquired asset comprises a line of waste pretreatment and an anaerobic digestion plant. After closure, and once the relevant authorizations have been obtained, CIP will transform the complex to operate exclusively as a biogas facility focused on the production of biomethane.
The plan includes the installation of a new digester, upgrading units to improve gas quality, and technology for COâ‚‚ captureWith this, the plant will not only inject biomethane, but will also be able to obtain biogenic COâ‚‚ in liquid form for industrial uses compatible with decarbonization.
The current electricity generation fed into the grid will give way to a scheme oriented towards renewable gas, with more efficient processes and a more complete use of the raw material treated.
Schedule and planned capacity
According to the schedule released by the company, the expansion and modernization works will begin in 2026, while the commissioning of the upgraded plant is estimated for 2028, subject to usual permits and procedures.
Once operational, the facility will be able to process more than 170.000 annual tons of substrates, reinforcing the supply of renewable gas in northwest England and increasing the resilience of the system to the volatility of fossil fuels.
Impact on the community and employment
The firm emphasizes that the project will contribute to the energy security This will have a positive impact on the local economy, with associated industrial activity and demand for technical professionals. Andreas Brandt, a partner at CIP, emphasized that this first purchase in the country strengthens their European position and that they look forward to cooperating with the authorities and the community to bring the project to fruition. transformation of the site and attend to the neighborhood concerns.
In addition to the supply of biomethane, the availability of Biogenic COâ‚‚ The liquid opens the door to applications in industries that already consume carbon dioxide, displacing fossil-based alternatives and favoring the reduction of emissions.
CIP's position in Europe and Spain
Founded in 2012, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners has established itself as one of the largest global managers dedicated exclusively to infrastructure projects. renewable energywith a particular focus on offshore wind. It manages a dozen or so funds and has raised around 33.000 millones de euros of more than 180 institutional investors, with a team of over 2.000 people and a presence in 14 international offices.
In Spain, CIP operates from its headquarters in Barcelona (opened in 2019) and is developing a multi-gigawatt portfolio. Among the most notable projects is the Wind Farm monegros (487 MW, in operation), the wind cluster of Teruel – Maestrazgo (744 MW, soon to begin construction) and the green hydrogen complex Catalina PtXwhich combines 1,1 GW of wind and solar power with a 500 MW electrolyzer in Andorra (Teruel). It also promotes the project Cobirgy, a biogas plant in Lleida.
The CI Advanced Bioenergy Fund I
CI Advanced Bioenergy Fund I is CIP's specialized vehicle in advanced bioenergyTheir investment thesis focuses on projects that convert organic waste and biomass into clean energy, including biogas, biomethane, and renewable fuels. The aim is to accelerate the decarbonization of the European energy system by progressively replacing existing energy sources. Fossil fuels through biological alternatives.
The operation consolidates CIP's commitment to renewable gas in Northern Europe and connects it with its Iberian pipeline, leveraging technological and market synergies to drive new capacity, create employment and provide certainty to the energy supply with sustainability criteria.
