Bio2Watt Energy Holdings (BEH) and Nijhuis Saur Industries (NSI) have signed a framework agreement appointing NSI as the technology solutions provider for BEH Biogas plants in Africa. BEH is a developer of organic waste-to-value projects with a pipeline of projects to generate over 330 gigawatt hours (GWh) of renewable energy for the corporate and industrial markets in South Africa and across the continent. The partnership will enable the delivery of BEH’s circular biogas solution, transforming organic waste into power, addressing energy shortages and increasing resilience to climate change.

From waste to value

South Africa currently sees approximately 3.67 million tons of waste annually not being collected and treated through formal waste collection systems, which results in illegal dumping. Organic waste earmarked for composting ends up in landfills and, although biodegradable, creates liquids and methane gas in the breakdown process. The resulting liquids can carry harmful chemicals from other non-biodegradable waste items into water systems and the soil, negatively impacting the environment and posing a significant threat to public health. This situation is a common occurrence across the continent.

BEH sources organic waste streams from local areas and produces biogas for green energy production and a Category 2 registered organic fertilizer via anaerobic digestion. Anaerobic digestion is a sequence of processes by which microorganisms break down biodegradable material by removing its oxygen. The company’s Biogas plants provide an effective solution to both the landfill problem and the economy at large.

Sean Thomas, CEO Bio2Watt Energy Holdings: “Anaerobic digestion, when combined with other renewable energy technologies, has the potential to transform the African energy sector into dispatchable home-grown solutions, reducing reliance on imports and creating much needed green jobs whilst leaving a cleaner environment. BEH, as a pan-African company together with its partners, has plans to play a significant role in the development of hybrid waste-to-energy solutions on the African continent.“

Eugen Goudsmith, CCO Nijhuis Saur Industries: “We are proud to be selected as technology solutions provider by BEH to execute projects in Africa. With our experience, we are contributing to reducing Africa’s energy and waste challenges that people are facing every day. The projects contribute to a sustainable circular economy by turning waste into energy and securing power to the end customers.”

Menno M. Holterman, CEO and President of Nijhuis Saur Industries, said: “Water, energy and food challenges in several African countries impact public health, the environment and economic prosperity. By solving the problems of waste and energy shortages, we are confidently committed to our CSR responsibility to help customers deliver sustainable and resilient circular solutions. Our framework agreement with BEH reflects our commitment to contribute to a sustainable and resilient future by closing the water-energy-waste loop and Saur Group’s #MissionWater goal..”

In 2022, Climate Fund Managers (CFM), a leading climate-centric blended finance fund manager, approved a US$38.5m investment in BEH to acquire the 4.8-megawatt Bronkhorstspruit Biogas Project (BBP) in Gauteng, South Africa and expand it to 9.8 megawatts.

Darron Johnson, Head of Infrastructure Africa at CFM, said: “Transforming organic waste into energy is a cutting-edge climate solution that reduces pollution, alleviates power deficits, improves public health, and drives economic growth. The partnership with Nijhuis will enable BEH to build its waste-to-energy platform across Africa, providing clean and reliable baseload power to clients while alleviating the strain on public waste management services and increasing resilience to climate change.”

The BPP Plant will convert approximately 240,000 tons of organic waste annually to renewable baseload power for offtake by BMW South Africa’s Rosslyn plant in Tshwane, Gauteng. The BBP plant will mitigate up to 48,000 tons of CO₂ per annum by diverting the organic waste from landfills, comparable to roughly 120 million miles driven in a passenger car.

BEH has a pipeline of waste-to-value projects on the continent, including a recently signed Power Purchase Agreement with Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) subsidiary, South African Breweries.

Notes to Editors: 

About Bio2Watt Energy Holdings (BEH)

BEH is ground-breaking in the South African Renewable Energy Industry as it was the first company to develop a commercially viable Biogas waste-to-energy plant in 2015, generating 4.6MW. Our vision is threefold:

• Generate green dispatchable base load electricity
• Reduce the volume of organic waste disposed to a landfill
• Bio2Watt Agri – Registered Category 2 organic fertiliser and soil enhancer

Our mission is to create a trusted Biogas waste- to- energy company both in South Africa and on the African continent, with a portfolio of waste-to-energy projects capable of generating 100MW in the next 5 years and assist in alleviating the energy demands currently placed on South Africa’s national grid and introduce a new locally produced organic fertiliser to the commercial market.

About Nijhuis Saur Industries

Founded in 1904, Nijhuis Saur Industries provides solid and adaptive solutions for sustainable and resilient water use, energy- and resource recovery. Since the inception of Saur’s Industrial Water platform in 2019 more than 14 companies have been successfully acquired and integrated into one global operating company supporting municipal and industrial clients in over 140 countries with engineering and consultancy services, EPC / DBFOM project execution, mobile water solutions and O&M site services. With an extensive portfolio of innovative technologies and game-changing solutions, Nijhuis Saur Industries is now delivering local, scalable, and circular water-on-demand solutions to more than 5,000 references around the world and contributing to a more sustainable and resilient future.

Our purpose is to be an advocate for water, ensuring everyone gives water the value it deserves. With our unique Customer for Life approach, we protect water resources, contribute to the water-, energy- and food transition, and help to restore and close the water loop. We call it #MissionWater.

www.nijhuissaurindustries.com

About Climate Fund Managers:

Climate Fund Managers (CFM) is a leading climate-centric blended finance fund manager. It raises and deploys climate finance funds in partnership at scale and at pace. Through its award-winning model, CFM has created a blueprint for a new generation of climate financiers, whose collective impact can help end the climate crisis. CFM currently manages two c. USD1bn emerging market infrastructure funds focused on climate change mitigation and adaptation: Climate Investor One focused on renewable energy, and Climate Investor Two focused on water, sanitation, and oceans infrastructure. The company is currently raising its third fund, Climate Credit Fund, a USD1bn target private credit fund focused on post-COD refinancing for renewable energy projects, and is preparing for a fourth fund focused on green hydrogen. Established in 2015, CFM is a joint venture between the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank, FMO, and Sanlam InfraWorks, part of the Sanlam Group of South Africa. CFM invests across Africa, Asia and Latin America and is headquartered in The Netherlands.