News
- April 2008: Nick Baston joins BioGen Power
- March 2008: BioGen Power tie-up technology supply agreement with ENER-G plc
- March 2008: Government announces eco town shortlist
- February 2008: ENERGOS to build sixth plant in Norway
- February 2008: ENER-G Holdings plc acquire 25 per cent of BioGen Power
- October 2007: BioGen Power appoints FD
- August 2007: Planning green light for BioGen Irvine plant
- February 2007: Ernst & Young LLP on board
April 2008
Nick Baston joins BioGen Power
BioGen Power has successfully recruited the able services of Nick Baston, who will join the BioGen team in May 2008 as Property, Planning and Licensing Manager. Nick joins from national waste company WRG, where he has held a number of senior positions, though latterly as their Senior Estates Manager for the Southern half of the UK. Previous to WRG, Nick worked with consultancy, AIG, as a Development Surveyor, managing landfill applications and varying EfW and waste treatment planning and licensing applications. Nick has a wealth of knowledge gained from within the waste management industry which will assist BioGen’s business strategy, particularly with its plans to build and operate 12 EfW plants across the UK over the next five years. Nick is a graduate of Sheffield’s Hallam University, where he studied minerals estate management.
March 2008
BioGen Power tie-up technology supply agreement with ENER-G Holdings plc
BioGen Power has signed a technology supply agreement with ENER-G Holdings plc. The agreement will provide BioGen access to a further 11 ENERGOS EfW plants over the next five years. “This is a significant step forward for our company,” said BioGen’s Chairman, James Short.
He added: “We are of the belief that tried and tested renewable technology will be in short supply over the next few years. Securing our supply chain now means that we can concentrate on site acquisition and planning, rather than losing focus trying to procure prototype alternatives. ENERGOS technology has a ten year track record and their plant scale fits neatly with our strategy of building and operating ‘small-scale’ EfW plants, close to where the waste is located.”
March 2008
Government announces eco town shortlist
Britain’s Housing Minister, Caroline Flint, has given the green light to 15 potential locations for the UK’s first new towns to be built for nearly 50 years. Although it is believed that some five of the shortlist will fail to meet the necessary standards, we could still see ten eco towns being built by 2016. The sites are not greenfield and include ex-MOD sites, a former clay pit, an old colliery and a disused airfield.
However, each location will need to gain planning approval, though it is thought that this will be easier to achieve with central government support. James Short, BioGen Power’s Chairman stated that the proposals could present great opportunities for renewable energy companies like ours, as small-scale EfW plants frequently supply district heating systems and electricity for small towns across Europe, and as these eco towns will have a green and clean requirement, the necessary infrastructure could be built–in, early on in the process.
February 2008
ENERGOS to build sixth plant in Norway
In February 2008, ENERGOS entered a contract with Hafslund Heat and Infrastructure AS (part of the Norwegian energy company Hafslund ASA) to supply an 80,000 tpa double line plant at Borregaard Industries Limited, Sarpsborg Chemical plant in Norway.
This new plant will compliment the existing Ostfold Energi owned ENERGOS plant which has been supplying steam to Borregaard Industries since 2003.
BioGen’s CEO, Christian Reeve, commented that the deal is an important one for ENERGOS and BioGen Power, as it demonstrates the reliability and functionality of the technology, to the extent that a happy customer has come back for more! The plant will be built to the same capacity as the ENERGOS / BioGen plant planned for Irvine, North Ayrshire, where construction will hopefully commence later this year.
February 2008
ENER-G plc acquire 25 per cent of BioGen Power
ENER-G plc, the owners of the ENERGOS EfW technology, this month acquired 25 per cent of BioGen Power’s share capital. The deal also included an option agreement to jointly develop the planned ENERGOS EfW plant at Irvine, North Ayrshire.
BioGen’s CEO, Christian Reeve, said: “The investment by ENER-G Holdings plc will help to support and speed up BioGen Power’s strategic expansion. In order to deliver on our commitment to build and operate 12 ENERGOS EfW plants in the UK over the next five years, we needed robust and competent strategic partners. Who better than our providers of small-scale EfW technology.”
October 2007
BioGen Power appoints FD
Michael Darch has joined BioGen Power as Financial Director, having spent the last ten years working in the Middle East.
Michael’s career commenced at Unilever plc, where he worked as a graduate trainee, moving onto BNFL, where he later became a divisional board member, having passed his professional accountancy exams. In 1989, Michael moved to BAE Systems plc, where he held a number of senior positions, including the FD role at its autonomous jet leasing business. In 1998, Michael moved to the Middle East, creating the region’s first ‘big ticket’ leasing business. More recently, Michael held the position of CFO at The International Investor, a listed and diverse investment company, with interests in investment banking, retail financial services, vehicle fleet leasing acquisition and contemporary back office processing services. Michael is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and will bring valuable fundraising and financial management skills to our organisation.
August 2007
Planning green light for BioGen Irvine plant
BioGen Power has successfully obtained planning consent to build an 80,000 tpa ENERGOS EfW plant at Irvine, North Ayrshire. The plant will have the ability to dispose of both MSW and CIW, however the plant will not be licensed to treat hazardous wastes. It is expected that construction will commence in late 2008, with completion in early 2010. The project will bring a large number of construction jobs to the local area over the two year build period, with up to 20 full-time jobs being created once the plant is fully operational.
BioGen’s Chairman, James Short said: “This is a major achievement for the company. The team at BioGen has worked very hard to achieve planning consent in Irvine, being the very first of its technology type and size in the UK. Hopefully, our success in Irvine will be repeated throughout the UK, as we apply to build and operate further plants in Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland.”
February 2007
Ernst & Young LLP on board
BioGen Power has appointed Ernst & Young LLP as their financial advisors. E&Y will assist BioGen with their ambitious expansion program and will advise on both equity and senior debt funding, both at a corporate and individual project level.
Christian Reeve, BioGen’s CEO, said: “E&Y has perhaps the largest renewables team in the UK and have valuable expertise in funding large capital projects, particularly in the EfW sector. BioGen’s expansion will require excellent professional financial advice and guidance, and we firmly believe that E&Y are well placed to provide this service.”
