New Zealand-based international clean-tech company, Greenlane Biogas, developer and supplier of technology for upgrading Biogas to Renewable Biomethane, has received fresh impetus from Hunter Powell Investment Partners (HPIP) with an injection of funds and a goal to reclaim position as a premier provider of biogas equipment. When produced from organic waste, biomethane has the lowest greenhouse gas emissions of any biofuel, and is able to be used in all natural gas vehicles.
Tenby Powell, one of the directors of HPIP, has taken on the role of Greenlane Biogas CEO. He explains the company aims to capture market share in the expanding North American and European markets, while also targeting new biogas markets in Asia and Latin America. Greenlane Biogas is already active in New Zealand, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Spain, Sweden, Iceland, Finland, Japan, South Korea, Netherlands, United States and Canada.
Greenlane Biogas underwent restructuring early 2013 with the formation of a new ownership group, and in December last year, the company also restructured its European business by centralizing its operations in Arnhem, The Netherlands. The changes opened the way for new investment and consolidated support for capital requirements projected by the company as it planned for significant growth over the next five years.
“Greenlane Biogas is a terrific Kiwi export business with some impressive intellectual property. It’s very exciting to be involved in a New Zealand business operating internationally,” says Powell. “We see enormous opportunities to further grow this business globally, which has always been at the forefront of the sustainable energy movement. It was ‘Clean-Tech’ and ‘Carbon-Neutral’ long before those phrases were even thought of.”
Currently, the amount of biogas Greenlane upgrades to biomethane each year is equivalent to 12 months’ fuel consumption for 140,000 cars. And the market is growing rapidly.
Greenlane offers five biogas upgrading systems, each named after a New Zealand native tree such as Kanuka, Matai, Rimu, Totara and Totara Plus – which is planned to be renamed Kauri, reflecting its status as a sustainable giant. In Gustro, Germany, the world’s largest plant for upgrading biogas uses Greenlane Totara Plus technology.
Powell says the patented technology is proven, modular and factory assembled, which results in quick and efficient installation on site. “Greenlane is well down the track in a standardisation project to ensure that upgrading systems have well defined specifications which reduces the need for capital investment and the demand for management and consulting services.”
What is Biogas?
Biogas, which consists mainly of methane, can be produced when food waste from households, manure or agricultural crops is broken down by micro-organisms in digesters and wastewater treatment plants. Biogas can be used for heating, power generation or upgrading to natural gas quality. To upgrade biogas to natural gas or vehicle fuel quality, contaminants such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide, need to be separated. Unlike gasoline, diesel, natural gas and many other fuels, upgraded biogas (biomethane) is a renewable energy source.
(Source: Hunter Powell Investment Partners)
