#BiogasClass - Vol. 14: Waga Energy Leads in Biogas Tech | New Biogas Mergers & Acquisitions in Europe | RNG Growth Forecast in the USA

Welcome to the 14th edition of Biogasclass Newsletter with Tusk Talent! This features for the first time, the same company winning company of the edition and technology of the edition!

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This is the BiogasClass-room, where we explore new information related to the bioenergy industry, covering topics such as biogas, RNG (Renewable Natural Gas), anaerobic digestion, SAF (Synthetic Aviation Fuels), feedstocks, biofuels, biomass, and the transition to cleaner fuels in the evolving energy landscape.

If you reside in areas where organic waste is collected for bioenergy production, do you have separate bins for food and garden waste? Have you considered donating this waste to be converted into energy? If not, we encourage you to reach out to your local governing body for support and guidance on how to participate in this sustainable initiative.

Bioenergy is valuable to us all, as waste is never wasted but transformed into various forms of value, including transportation fuels, energy, heating, fertilizers, cooking, and more!

???Company & Technology of the Edition

This goes to Waga Energy Energy & the @WAGABOX Technology! Waga Energy Inc., a subsidiary of Waga Energy Group, have recently secured a $60 million (€55.8 million) financing from Eiffel Investment Group to construct four renewable natural gas (RNG) production units in the US. This marks Waga Energy's inaugural US financing. Their WAGABOX? technology purifies landfill gas into RNG, deployed globally. In the US, seven large-capacity units are under construction. Eiffel Investment Group's investment supports Waga Energy Inc.'s growth in the US, financing the first four projects, including one in final construction in Steuben County, Bath (New York State). These units aim to produce 1,980,000 MMBtu (495 GWh) of RNG annually, averting over 120,000 tons of eqCO2 yearly, equivalent to emissions from 140 million gallons of gasoline per EPA calculations. This collaboration follows their 2020 partnership, where Eiffel Investment Group funded Waga Energy's WAGABOX units in France, fully repaid in 2022.

WAGABOX is a technology developed by Waga Energy that upgrades landfill gas into biomethane. This process involves transforming the methane gas produced by decomposing waste in landfills into a clean and usable fuel source.

Here are some key points about WAGABOX:

• Function: It utilizes a combination of membrane filtration and cryogenic distillation to remove impurities from landfill gas, resulting in high-quality biomethane that meets the specifications for injection into the natural gas grid.
• Benefits:Reduces reliance on fossil fuels: Biomethane produced by WAGABOX can be used as a renewable alternative to natural gas, contributing to energy independence and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.Creates additional revenue: Landfill operators can generate additional income by selling the biomethane produced by WAGABOX units.Contributes to a circular economy: By utilizing waste to create a valuable energy source, WAGABOX promotes a more sustainable approach to waste management.
• Applications: WAGABOX units are available in various sizes to cater to landfills of different capacities, and the produced biomethane can be used for various purposes, including:Injecting it into the natural gas grid for heating and cooking purposes.Utilizing it as a vehicle fuel.

Overall, WAGABOX represents a significant advancement in the field of waste-to-energy technology, offering a sustainable and cost-effective solution for converting landfill gas into a clean and valuable fuel source.

Well done to Waga Energy as a major player in the bioenergy field!

??Mergers & Acquisitions in Europe

Cycle? Group acquires Biogasclean

Cycle0Group Limited has acquired Biogasclean A/S, a top Danish supplier of biological methanation and desulphurisation systems. Cycle?, a leading pan-European biomethane platform, develops, builds, owns, and operates RNG projects in Europe and Latin America. Its biological methanation technology, integral to the world's largest plant producing e-methane, injects 33 GWh of sustainable e-methane annually into Denmark's gas grid. Ara Partners, a private equity firm focusing on industrial decarbonisation, provided additional capital for the acquisition. This strategic move enhances Cycle?'s position in the biomethane sector, enabling more efficient green gas solutions by converting biogenic CO2 from biogas into e-methane, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and boosting green gas production by ~70%.

Laurence Molke Laurence Molke , CEO of Cycle? said:

"We are delighted to welcome Biogasclean's?talented and experienced team to our Group and look forward to deploying their?patented biocatalyst technologies to produce more carbon-negative fuels for the hard to electrify energy, heat, transport, and industrial sectors."

Niels Holst Jensen , CEO of Biogasclean A/S said:

"We stand at a pivotal moment, and the window to avoid the worst effects of climate change is getting narrower by the day, the combination of Cycle? and Biogasclean is uniquely positioned to reduce methane emissions and capture CO2?from the atmosphere, at scale."

Suomen Lantakaasu Oy (Valio and St1) Acquires Major Shares in Nurmon Bioenergia Oy

Suomen Lantakaasu Oy, a joint venture betweenValio & St1 Nordic Oy , has acquired the majority shareholding of Nurmon Bioenergia Oy, with Heikas Oy and other small shareholders finalizing the deal. Atria Plc Finland Ltd. remains a minority stakeholder. The acquisition puts Suomen Lantakaasu in charge of an industrial-scale liquefied biogas production plant under construction in Nurmo, set to become one of Finland's largest. This facility will utilize manure and agricultural by-products to produce renewable energy and biofertilizers, with an annual production capacity of 117 gigawatt-hours. The plant's operation will reduce fossil diesel demand by 11.7 million liters annually, cutting approximately 40,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. Suomen Lantakaasu plans to integrate carbon dioxide from biogas production into Finland's hydrogen economy ecosystem. With construction near Atria's Nurmo plant, the biogas facility targets completion and commissioning by 2026, supported by environmental permits and investment aid from Finland's Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.

Jyrki Heil?, Chairman of Heikas Oy’s Board of Directors and the initiator of the project said:

“I am delighted that we have found such a solid anchor owner for Nurmon Bioenergia Oy; Suomen Lantakaasu Oy is committed to the long-term development of biogas production from agricultural feedstock, the majority stake in Nurmon Bioenergia Oy is part of Suomen Lantakaasu Oy’s aim to build a domestic biogas production network.

Leena Helminen , Valio’s Director, Sustainable Business Development who's also responsible for business development at Suomen commented that:

Jyrki Heil? has done a tremendous job in pioneering manure-based biogas production and it’s a pleasure to be able to lead Nurmon Bioenergia forward by drawing on Suomen Lantakaasu’s expertise in the future,” .

“Atria and Suomen Lantakaasu have common goals to promote the agricultural biogas business and to generate vitality and income for domestic agriculture. For the Atria value chain, the realisation of this project will mean progress towards our carbon neutrality target," "The Nurmon Bioenergia project is now moving forward with broader shoulders, as previously planned. Tuoretie Oy, the company handling Atria’s transports, will gradually switch to a biogas-powered fleet for food transports. The aim is to achieve a reduction of around 10 million kilos of CO2 emissions by 2030 through the transition to biogas,”

said Tauno Per?l? , Senior Vice President, Industrial Operations, Atria Finland Ltd.

?Latest News Updates

RNG Market Poised to Grow up to $4 billion by 2030

The North American renewable natural gas (RNG) market is poised for substantial growth, with projections indicating a surge from $1.5 billion in 2022 to $4.0 billion by 2030, boasting a notable CAGR of 13.04%. This growth is propelled by stringent emissions standards and government regulations mandating clean fuels adoption.

RNG production is expected to reach 160 million MMBTUs by 2030, up from 71.5 billion MMBTUs in 2022, with landfills projected to account for 64% of production, followed by agricultural waste (25%), and wastewater/food waste (8%).

Clean Fuel Standards (CFS) in various US states and Canada, along with federal benefits like the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and the Investment Tax Credit (IRA), will drive demand for RNG. As emission benchmarks tighten, low-carbon intensity RNG becomes increasingly lucrative.

The market is competitive, involving dairy farmers, landfill operators, utility companies, and oil & gas corporations. The top-ten project developers are expected to hold 20% of total capacity by 2030.

cCarbon's report "NORTH AMERICAN RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS OUTLOOK 2030" offers in-depth insights into industry strategies, challenges, and opportunities. Rooted in extensive market research, the analysis encompasses qualitative and quantitative assessments, stakeholder interviews, regulatory analysis, feedstock evaluation, and RNG price forecasting, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the North American RNG market.

That's all for this edition of the?#biogasclass and hope you enjoyed the industry updates and please connect and follow below!

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Feel free to comment, feedback or suggest topics of interest. Also let me know if your bioenergy related company would like a feature on the Newsletter.

That's all folks and looking forward to marking your attendance in the next Biogas Class!