Dublin, Ireland (January 16, 2025) – Glanua, a leading engineering company, has today announced that it has acquired UK-based Marches Biogas, an engineering and services firm that specialises in anaerobic digestion and biogas production.
Glanua is an industry leader in the municipal and industrial sectors, providing innovative and sustainable engineering solutions to design, build and deliver critical water, wastewater and energy infrastructure across the UK and Ireland.
The financial details of the sale remain undisclosed, but the acquisition marks another significant step forward in Glanua’s ambitious growth plan.
The transaction positions the Galway-headquartered Glanua as a specialist in the design, construction and operation of anaerobic digestion and biogas plants, significantly enhancing the company’s expertise, broadening its customer base, and expanding its capabilities and services into the bioresource sector by transforming wastewater and biomass sludge into a valuable energy resource.
Anaerobic Digestion (AD) is a sustainable, low-carbon technology complementing both the wastewater and bioresource sectors. Maximising the benefits of AD is increasingly important to businesses with biomass treatment requirements because it efficiently reduces organic waste, lowers energy costs, and generates renewable biogas, aligning with sustainability and cost-saving goals.
Founded in 2009, Shropshire-based Marches Biogas was acquired by its management and employees in 2020. The company recorded sales of £6 million in 2023 and employs 27 people. Its acquisition means Glanua’s workforce has now increased to over 600.
The purchase is the second acquisition completed by Glanua in the last six months. The company acquired UK-based Aqua Operations in August of last year in a move that increased its presence in the UK’s water and wastewater industry. Of the Group’s 600 employees, 130 are now UK-based.
Anaerobic digestion (AD) plants produce biogas from organic feedstocks such as sludge from wastewater treatment plants, food waste, animal slurry and manures, as well as waste and by-products from agro-industries.
Marches Biogas has extensive experience in the design, construction, installation, training, operation and maintenance of AD and biogas plants. It has built over 30 AD plants ranging from 50kWe to large-scale facilities utilising feedstocks including energy crops, farm slurries, food and industrial wastes.
The company works on biomass treatment projects across the UK and internationally in the municipal and industrial sectors. It provides tailored advice, training and maintenance packages for plants it has constructed and those built by third parties.
There are over 550 AD plants in the UK, many of which have been in existence for more than 10 years. Glanua believes this represents an opportunity for upgrades and modernisation works to intensify the existing digestion process through innovative technology that maximises resource recovery.
The acquisition comes after Glanua recently announced it had received significant funding from Rabobank to support its continuing expansion. It also follows a period of growth for Glanua in the past 18 months following the company’s rebranding in July 2023.
Total revenue at Glanua amounted to €97 million in 2022 and increased to €150 million in 2023. The Group’s long-term strategic plan is to grow turnover to €400 million by 2028.
The Group is undergoing significant expansion and recently opened four new offices across Ireland and the UK in Belfast, Cork, Reading and London. Glanua’s clients include Uisce Éireann, Thames Water, Yorkshire Water, Northern Ireland Water, Kerry Group, Glanbia and ABP.
Karl Zimmerer, Group Managing Director of Glanua, said: “We are very pleased to announce the acquisition of Marches Biogas and look forward to integrating the business into the expanding Glanua Group. Marches Biogas is a leader in anaerobic digestion and biogas technologies and has a strong reputation as a provider of high-quality and innovative engineering solutions.
“This acquisition strengthens our position in the UK and aligns with our growth strategy and sustainability goals. It expands our capabilities, broadens our customer base, and enables us to better serve industrial clients who increasingly require anaerobic digestion solutions, while also opening the door to new opportunities in the municipal market.
“This acquisition highlights our commitment to advancing the circular economy by transforming organic waste into renewable energy through anaerobic digestion technologies. It also enhances our ability to support clients in achieving sustainability goals with better waste management and energy recovery solutions.”
Keith Knight, Director at Marches Biogas, said: “We are pleased to be joining Glanua and excited about the opportunity of working alongside our new colleagues in an expanding and ambitious company. Marches Biogas has a long history of providing excellent anaerobic digestion and biogas engineering technologies and services, and we look forward to continuing to serve our existing clients while growing our client base within the Glanua Group.
“There are increasing opportunities in our field of expertise, and we are now well-positioned to work closely with our clients to help them achieve their sustainability goals.”
Previously published on Marches Biogas.