News category: News

News

On the 28th of June 2024, Vauban Infrastructure Partners through Core Infrastructure Fund IV SCSp and Core Infrastructure Fund IV SCA SICAV RAIF (together “CIF IV”) closed the acquisition of a majority stake in the Wijster companies, namely Green Create W2V Europe BV and its wholly owned subsidiary Green Create Wijster B.V., (Wijster SPVs or the Wijster plant) from Green Create, paving the way for a long term partnership in the biomethane sector.

The Wijster plant, located in the Netherlands, is one of Europe’s largest biomethane production plants with a current biomethane installed capacity of 237 GWh/year to be injected in the Dutch grid. The plant is an anaerobic digestion plant designed to process primarily poulstry manure, with ability to operate with diversified feedstock such as organic waste.

The Wijster plant has been operating since 2022, and the project encompasses two planned extensions. Through these scheduled expansions, the Wijster plant will have a total capacity of c. 554 GWh,.

Biomethane assets are set for substantial growth in the coming years, aligning with European public policy objectives. This sector benefits from robust dynamics and strong regulatory support across Europe due to its significant positive externalities, including CO2 emission reduction and the provision of a sovereign, reliable, and storable energy source. This investment also enhances Vauban’s investment footprint by marking its first direct investment into the Netherlands, a core Western European market with a solid regulatory framework. It is above all a prime location for biomethane development as it benefits from an unparalleled agriculture production intensity and a national framework supportive for biomethane.

This acquisition project aligns perfectly with Vauban Infrastructure Partners’ strategy of long-term investment in strategic sectors prioritizing energy transition and circular economy. It constitutes a key investment producing a critical commodity, showcasing strong ESG credentials through biomass local supply. Unlike typical smaller scale methanization plants that rely primarily on agricultural waste for biogas production, the Wijster plant sources primarily poultry manure through long term contracts from over 100 local farmers within a one-hour distance radius. By producing biomethane from poultry manure, the Wijster plant significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuel alternatives. The biomethane production process from poultry manure feedstock, boasts a negative carbon intensity of c.100kg CO2/GJ1, enabling substantially higher emissions reduction compared to other types of feedstocks.

This strategic investment generates an essential commodity in a sustainable manner and is supported by an existingcontractual framework and advantageous tariff structure. It features a key long-term contract with Shell Energy for biomethane and associated green certificates.

By providing the Wijster plant with long-term shareholder stability and financing for extensions plans, Vauban will accelerate the project development and support its ambitious extensions program in response to the expectations of the industry & State decarbonization objectives.

News

We are excited to announce that Green Create has obtained the environmental permit to establish the first large-scale waste-to-value plant of Belgium in Evergem. The new project is a major step in creating a greener future. The plant will produce Bio LNG: sustainable transport fuel entirely made from organic waste. This will significantly reduce the carbon emissions within the transport sector. By this, Green Create helps to reach the goal of a carbon-free society in Belgium.

Creating the highest CO2 reduction in the transport sector

With our new groundbreaking plant we will process 255,000 tons of organic waste annually, producing 70 tons of Bio LNG per day. Just like in our other waste-to-value plants worldwide, we will use organic waste to create renewable alternatives. Our plant in Belgium (Evergem) will be the first to produce the low-carbon fuel Bio LNG, with the goal of replacing diesel in the heavy road transport sector. This innovation allows us to achieve the highest CO2 savings, as the bio LNG produced replaces commonly used diesel. In addition, the Bio LNG production process yields highly useful by-products such as ammonium sulfate crystals and organic fertilizers.

“First-ever Bio LNG permit in Belgium”

“The new plant in Belgium is unique in its scale and industrial approach,”  points out the Head of Business Development of Green Create, Tom van Essen. “We are also incredibly proud to have obtained the first-ever Bio LNG permit in Belgium. As the market for greener fuels is rapidly evolving, we aim to stay ahead of the eco-innovative business. By starting this exciting new project, we create green solutions for the transport industry, ​​contributing to a greener future.” 

News

We are proud to announce that Green Create has completed one of the world’s largest manure-fed biomethane production plants in Wijster, the Netherlands, marking a significant step towards the REPowerEU plan to transform Europe’s energy system. With this plant, we are reducing the EU’s dependence on fossil fuels and contributing to the fight against the climate crisis.

From 237,000 to 327,00 MWh in just three years

In 2020, we began building the first phase of the Wijster plant, which has an installed capacity of 237,000 MWh per year. Following completion in 2022, we will add additional gas into the Dutch grid in time for the 2023 winter demand. We have also received the necessary approvals to proceed with the second phase, an expansion of an additional 90,000 MWh per year. This will take the Wijster waste-to-value campus to a total installed capacity of 327,000 MWh per year, produced entirely from manure, making it the largest manure-only fed biomethane production site in the Netherlands.

For 2023, the installed 237,000 MWh capacity in Wijster will allow for a carbon avoidance of up to 162,100 tons per year, which translates to removing 35,000 passenger vehicles from the road or avoiding 642 million road kilometres travelled. Additionally, the biogenic fertiliser production capacity in Wijster of up to 5,700 tons of N per year results in a further reduction of up to 6,900 tons of CO2 that would have been emitted through traditional nitrogen production.

In our approach we have shortened the waste-to-value lifecycle, by contracting directly with farmers as the point waste origin on the inbound side of our process, and on the outbound side delivering directly to parties introducing the sustainable fuel into the transport sector, with a transparent and ISCC certified chain of custody, adhering to the stricter of respective local regulations and Renewable Energy Directive (REDII) principles.

News

Green Create has commissioned a biogas facility in Mauritius which started from a collaboration with international food and drinks supplier, Princes Group, and IBL Energy. The new collaboration and use of biogas aims to reduce the carbon emissions of Princes Group’s Mauritian tuna processing factory, Princes Tuna Mauritius (PTM), by 8.650 tons a year, or 80 percent, compared to using Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO).

The collaborative project consists of a long-term agreement between the parties involved. Princes Group’s PTM is the biggest tuna processing factory in the Indian Ocean. The company has been responsible for tuna processing for Princes and other clients for over forty years. 

Ground-breaking biological technology 

The plant will convert all semi-solid waste into biogas via anaerobic biological technology. The biogas will then replace the use of heavy fuel oil on PTM’s Riche Terre-site. This also greatly reduces the amount of waste generated.

Green Create produces biogas that we upgrade into many useful energy forms, such as Bio-Methane, Bio LNG and renewable energy. During the process of making biogas, we convert the surplus into byproducts such as organic fertilizers.