Small buyout specialist, Matrix Private Equity Partners, has facilitated one of the first large scale biogas ‘energy from waste’ projects in the UK through its investment in Monsal, whi
Small buyout specialist, Matrix Private Equity Partners, has facilitated one of the first large scale biogas ‘energy from waste’ projects in the UK through its investment in Monsal, which it backed in 2007.
Monsal, based in Nottinghamshire, is a specialist environmental technology company that provides advanced anaerobic digestion solutions to the water and waste sectors. AD is a proven technology which enables organic waste to be processed into biogas which can be burned to generate green electricity.
At the time of MPEP’s investment, Monsal had a well established record of providing AD solutions to the water industry and had started to develop a waste offering.
In addition to providing the resources to strengthen the team, MPEP introduced an experienced chairman, Tim Ross, and enabled the completion of a strategic partnership agreement with Inter Engineering of Germany, a leading supplier of waste separation technology.
Monsal can now offer a one-stop-shop for biowaste separation, digestion and renewable production with credible operational reference sites.
At the end of 2008, Monsal was awarded the contract to build a new flagship energy from waste plant in Cumbernauld, Scotland for Scottish Water Waste Services, the waste management business of Scottish Water.
The plant will process source segregated food and commercial waste and is the first large scale commercial biowaste plant to be built in Scotland.
‘This market is still at an early stage of its growth phase,’ says Ashley Broomberg at Matrix Private Equity Partners. ‘By securing such a flagship project for a blue chip customer at this stage, Monsal has positioned itself to become a major player in the renewable energy sector.
‘There is a rich pipeline of opportunities from waste management operators, merchant operators, landfill and composting owners, food processing companies and the utilities. This project for Scottish Water will prove the attractive economics of owning and operating biogas ‘waste from energy’ plants and we expect there to be significant interest in the sector from potential operators and the financial community.’
