BALANCE acquires biogas facility portfolio comprising five sites in Eastern Germany

BALANCE Erneuerbare Energien GmbH (BALANCE), a joint venture of Leipzig-based VNG AG and the infrastructure investor CVC DIF, has acquired the biogas portfolio of Deutsche Bioenergie Verbinder GmbH (DBV). The move will result in significant growth in the capacity of BALANCE: Total output will increase by approximately 23 percent from approx. 199MW to around 245 MW of rated thermal output (MWt), theoretically supplying more than 221,000 households with climate-friendly energy. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. The deal is still subject to approval by the Federal Cartel Office (“BKartA”).

The portfolio includes ten facilities at five locations in the federal states of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The Dargun site (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) accommodates a large biomethane processing plant with a capacity of 1,366 Nm³/h (around 15 MWt). At the four other locations in Wiesenburg and Reppinichen (both in Brandenburg), Jessen (Saxony-Anhalt) and Zittau (Saxony), biogas power generation plants with a total capacity of approximately 31 MWt are operated.

The newly acquired portfolio is a good fit with the existing portfolio of BALANCE, which in the future operates biogas facilities at over 40 locations in Eastern and Northern Germany. Dargun and Zittau are located in close proximity to existing BALANCE facilities; while Wiesenburg, Reppinichen and Jessen connect existing clusters in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. “The close proximity to our existing locations enables efficient integration into operations. This creates a variety of advantages, especially when it comes to collaborating with service providers and locally sourcing substrates in the region,” explains BALANCE Managing Director Volker Klinkert, adding: “With the new facilities, we are successively extending our portfolio of production.”

“With the acquisition of a large biogas portfolio in Eastern Germany, BALANCE is strengthening its leading position as a reliable partner in the field of renewable energies. I am therefore delighted that BALANCE is not only continuing to grow, but is also making an important contribution to the region’s supply of climate-friendly energy. As an energy medium, biogas combines climate protection with security of supply – it can be produced locally, can be used flexibly and reliably supplies energy when other renewable sources are not available,” says Hans-Joachim Polk, Member of Executive Board and Chief Infrastructure/Technology Officer at VNG AG, commenting on BALANCE’s consistent growth path in the biogas market.

“The acqusition of this biogas portfolio marks a first impactful step on our growth path which follows on the back of the recently entered partnership between VNG and CVC DIF. With the seasoned and professional team of BALANCE we will develop these sites continuously in order to realize their full potential”, underscores Marcel Beverungen, Managing Director and Head of CVC DIF Germany. “We are convinced that this transaction will further enhance the market position of BALANCE and open up new opportunities from which all involved parties will profit.”

About BALANCE

BALANCE Erneuerbare Energien GmbH is one of the leading companies in the operation and optimisation of biogas facilities in Germany. With over 40 plants in Northern and Eastern Germany and a combined rated thermal output of around 199 MWt, BALANCE supplies approximately 180,000 households with climate-friendly energy, avoiding the emission around 350,000 tons of CO₂ annually. The company, based in Leipzig, is jointly owned by VNG AG and the infrastructure investor CVC DIF and employs over 200 staff. The company is jointly directed by Thomas Fritsch, Volker Klinkert and Alexander Fröhlich, who is currently standing in for Friedrich Nollau.

Press contact

Catharina Hampel
BALANCE Erneuerbare Energien GmbH
Phone: +49 341 443-4195
catharina.hampel@balance-bbm.de
www.balance-vng.de

Felicitas Kermarrec
BALANCE Erneuerbare Energien GmbH
Phone: +49 341 443-5730
felicitas.kermarrec@balance-bbm.de
www.balance-vng.de