Methaplanet International BV, an innovative scale-up focused on preparing and optimizing agricultural waste streams to enhance their utilization in biogas plants, is thrilled to announce the successful conclusion of a €6M investment round. Led by ABP, with backing from EIT InnoEnergy and business angels, this significant milestone not only marks a pivotal moment in Methaplanet’s journey but also signals a resounding endorsement of our commitment to a more sustainable world.

At Methaplanet, we aim to contribute to addressing challenges within the agricultural sector, reducing emissions, and actively participating in the energy transition. By optimizing the biogas yield from agricultural residual streams, a biogas plant can ultimately produce more biogas within the same facility. By incorporating energy pellets made from, for example, straw-based manures, we can significantly enhance the production of biomethane in mono-manure biogas plants. This will help famers to increase the profitability of their biogas plants while giving them an alternative source of sustainable income out of manure. Both options lead to increased biomethane production, contributing to the RePowerEU ambitions of achieving 35bcm of biomethane by 2030 (in 2022,  the biomethane production was only 3.4bcm). This ambitious target requires a significant increase in capacity and  more efficient use of feedstock.

With ABP joining our shareholder team, alongside EIT InnoEnergy and angel investors, Methaplanet strengthens its position in its journey to make biogas production more efficient. ABP’s investment underscores their recognition of the potential of Methaplanet’s innovative approach.

This injection of capital will empower Methaplanet to embark on ambitious initiatives, including the establishment of its own production facilities for its energy pellets. Additionally, the funding will accelerate our research and development efforts, enabling us to advance innovation and enhance our offerings.

Moreover, this investment will energize Methaplanet’s efforts to deepen relationships with customers, suppliers, and ecosystem partners, fostering collaboration aimed at maximizing the efficiency of biogas production across diverse scales. By harnessing the collective expertise and resources of our network, we are ready to drive meaningful progress towards a more sustainable energy landscape.

“We extend a warm welcome to ABP and express our gratitude to all our investors for their unwavering support and trust in our vision,” said Xander Sandell, CEO at Methaplanet. “Together, we are embarking on an exciting journey towards a greener, more sustainable future.”

Methaplanet remains committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation and sustainability, and this latest investment represents a significant step forward in our mission to revolutionize the biogas sector.

Furthermore, in addition to enhancing the efficiency of biogas plants Methaplanet also aims to further contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions by limiting its own ecological footprint and by operating with a sustainable supply chain. This supports our commitment to making a positive impact on the environment.

Martijn Olthof, investment manager at ABP’s Netherlands Energy Transition Fund commented on the deal: “Methaplanet’s ability to convert agricultural waste streams into sustainable energy products will allow it to generate substantial positive environmental impact. We are very excited to embark on this journey with the Methaplanet team and we are looking forward to seeing financial returns and environmental impact go hand in hand.”

Jacob Ruiter, Member of the Executive Board at EIT InnoEnergy and CEO for the Benelux region, added: “Methaplanet’s solution to turn typically low-value feedstock into highly efficient pellets for biogas production can contribute significantly to achieving the EU climate goals. Therefore, we see a great fit with our broader investment portfolio that works toward the common goal of accelerating the energy transition.”