Innovative technology made in Germany

Lohne, 23 August 2013 - Short start-up times to full capacity, up to 99% methane content and very low methane slip - that's what the plant built by EnviTec Biogas AG in the Saxony-Anhalt town of Sachsendorf is capable of. The biogas all-rounder from Lower Saxony soon expands the plant, which has been already running since October 2012, by 350 Nm³/h for direct injection into the grid. Thanks to its sustainability and innovative technology, the demonstration plant for upgrading biogas at the Sachsendorf location has already been closely inspected by several international visitors. Last Wednesday, 21 August 2013, the members of yet another high-profile delegation registered their names in the plant's visitors' book - this time from China.

In the scope of German-Chinese ministerial cooperation, a biogas workgroup was formed in 2012. Its goals include among others the joint improvement of biogas technology for the sensible utilisation of existing agricultural residues and waste in China and the improved provision of renewable energy in rural areas. Following this year's workgroup meeting in Berlin, Chinese government and business representatives together with representatives of the German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection visited biogas plants in Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt, among them the EnviTec plant in Sachsendorf and the German Biomass Research Centre (DBFZ) in Leipzig.

The gas upgrading process developed by EnviTec with the cooperation of Evonik Industries impresses with its high efficiency, which is above all due to the membrane technology used. The EnviThan technology is primarily distinguished by its efficiency and environmental friendliness, because it makes do without using chemicals, water or other aides. For this reason, the biogas upgrading technology was awarded the Biogas Innovation Prize of the German Farmers' Association as early as 2012.

The delegation of 28 government and research representatives were especially impressed with how the membrane technology functions. The polymer membranes clean the raw biogas generated in the biogas plant to up to 99% content particularly efficiently. This creates highly clean biomethane that can be directly fed into the existing natural gas network - without detours and without causing any additional costs. The Chinese visitors were accompanied by representatives of the German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMLEV), the Agency for Renewable Resources (FNR) and the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ).

With the operation of the Sachsendorf plant, the biogas plant manufacturer from Lower Saxony intends to further boost the profitability of biogas upgrading plants using innovative membrane technology. Currently, up to 80% of the natural gas consumed in Germany is imported. By increasing the use of membrane technology, upgraded bio-natural gas could contribute to covering the majority of natural gas consumption by processing local renewable raw materials and organic waste.

About EnviTec Biogas AG
EnviTec Biogas AG covers the entire value chain for the production of biogas: including the planning and turnkey construction of biogas plants as well as their commissioning. The company takes charge of biological and technical services on demand and also offers full plant and operational management. In addition, EnviTec also operates its own biogas plants. In 2011 EnviTec Biogas established EnviTec Energy GmbH & Co. KG and its 100% subsidiary EnviTec Stromkontor GmbH & Co. KG, expanding its business operations into the direct marketing of upgraded biomethane as well as the marketing of green electricity and balancing energy. Today, Today, EnviTec Biogas AG is worldwide active in 20 countries. In 2012 EnviTec generated revenues of € 190.5 million and an EBIT of € 1.3 million. The EnviTec Group currently has 362 employees. EnviTec has been listed on the Prime Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since July 2007.

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