BALANCE Expands Biogas Capacities by 23 Percent: Acquisition of Ten Plants Across Four German States

BALANCE Erneuerbare Energien GmbH (BALANCE), a subsidiary of Leipzig-based VNG AG and infrastructure investor CVC DIF, has acquired a plant portfolio from Deutsche Bioenergie Verbinder GmbH (DBV). As a result, BALANCE is set to grow significantly: the company’s total capacity will increase by around 23 percent – from approximately 199 MW to around 245 MW of thermal input (MWFWL) – enabling the supply of climate-friendly energy to more than 221,000 households. The purchase price has not been disclosed. The acquisition is subject to approval by the German Federal Cartel Office.

The portfolio includes ten plants across five locations in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg, and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. At the Dargun site (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania), a large biomethane upgrading plant with a capacity of 1,366 Nm³/h (around 15 MWFWL) is operated. At the other four sites – Wiesenburg and Reppinichen (both in Brandenburg), Jessen (Saxony-Anhalt), and Zittau (Saxony) – biogas power generation plants with a total capacity of approximately 31 MWFWL are in operation.

The new portfolio will be integrated into BALANCE’s existing asset base, with the company now operating biogas plants at more than 40 locations across northern and eastern Germany. The sites in Dargun and Zittau are located close to existing BALANCE plants, while Wiesenburg, Reppinichen, and Jessen connect existing clusters in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. “The proximity of the new plants to our current sites allows for efficient integration into our operational processes. This creates multiple advantages, particularly in cooperation with service providers and in the regional sourcing of substrates,” explains BALANCE Managing Director Volker Klinkert. “With these new facilities, we are steadily expanding our production portfolio.”

“With the acquisition of this extensive biogas portfolio in eastern Germany, BALANCE is strengthening its leading position as a reliable player in the renewable energy sector. I am very pleased that BALANCE is not only continuing its growth trajectory but also contributing to regional supply security with climate-friendly energy. As an energy carrier, biogas combines climate protection with security of supply – it is locally produced, flexibly deployable, and provides reliable energy when other renewable sources are not available,” comments Hans-Joachim Polk, Member of the Executive Board for Infrastructure/Technology at VNG AG, on BALANCE’s consistent growth strategy in the biogas market.

“The acquisition of this biogas portfolio marks an important first step on the growth path following the recently established partnership between VNG and CVC DIF. Together with BALANCE’s strong and highly professional team, we will continue to develop the sites and unlock their full potential,” adds Marcel Beverungen, Managing Director and Head of CVC DIF Germany. “We are confident that this acquisition will strengthen our market position and create new opportunities that will benefit all parties involved.”