ENGIE New Ventures, ENGIE’s Research and Innovation investment fund for innovative start-ups that accelerate the energy transition, has invested in WASE, a UK-based company developing technology that unlocks a 30% increase in the amount of methane generated from biomass, including from previously untreatable waste streams. 

WASE is unlocking the power of waste to make it the fuel for the future. Its proprietary Electro-Methanogenic Reactor (EMR) technology maximises the amount of biogas produced from biomass in anaerobic digestion (AD) plants, as well as from organic matter in wastewater. Its units increase biomethane yield by 30% and reduce production time by up to a factor of 10. WASE’s plug-and-play system fits into existing infrastructure and is also 50–70% smaller than the units currently available. The modular solution allows for customisation, making it much easier for companies to deploy at their site, resulting in higher energy production and lower costs in the long run.

ENGIE’s investment in WASE comes as it continues to progress with biomethane development: by 2023, ENGIE networks in France had connected to an annual capacity of up to 10.8 TWh, an increase of 2.6 TWh since the end of 2022. The Group’s target is to have a biomethane production capacity of 10 TWh per year in Europe by 2030. The development of green gas is one of the levers used by ENGIE to achieve its net zero carbon emissions objective by 2045.

“We’re seeing a future of Waste-to-Energy that maximises energy generation and environmental benefits for customers, and we aim to play a major part in this transition by becoming leaders in the biogas market. ENGIE and Extantia, who deeply understand this sector, and all the investors supporting us in this round, will be invaluable resources to help us achieve this” says Thomas Fudge, Founder and CEO of WASE.

“At ENGIE, we believe that renewable gas is necessary to ensure both the reliability and the competitiveness of the decarbonised energy system. This breakthrough technology developed by Wase has the potential to boost biomethane production, even in existing units. We’re delighted to partner with a consortium of investors to support this startup. This is a major step to deploy innovation onto the market and to allow greater efficiency and competitiveness” says Camille Bonenfant-Jeanneney, Managing Director of ENGIE Renewable Gases Europe.

 ENGIE New Ventures investment is part of a global £8.5 million financing package led by Extantia Capital, with participation from Hitachi Ventures, WEPA and other investors including Elbow Beach Capital and Empirical Ventures.

 

About WASE
WASE is a leading company dedicated to unlocking the potential of waste, transforming it into a renewable energy source for the future. With a focus on sustainability and circularity, WASE partners with industry pioneers to maximise environmental impact through innovative technology and collaborative efforts, fostering circular waste reuse and sustainable energy generation. WASE’s proprietary Electro-Methanogenic Reactor (EMR) technology is versatile and maximises the amount of biogas produced from biomass in anaerobic digestion (AD) plants, as well as from organic matter in wastewater. Its units increase biogas generation by 30% up to ten times faster. For further information, please visit www.wase.co.uk

About ENGIE New Ventures
ENGIE New Ventures (ENV) is ENGIE’s Research & Innovation investment fund dedicated to innovative start-ups in the field of climate technology. ENV makes minority investments in innovative start-ups that bring strategic value to the Group, with a specific focus on future disruptive technologies. Since 2014, it has invested in over 50 solutions in the cleantech sector, mainly involving renewable energy, energy efficiency and flexibility solutions, and green gases including hydrogen. ENV is represented in Paris, San Francisco and Tel Aviv. For further information: www.engieventures.com

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