Axpo Kompogas acquisition will allow Swiss company to offer both thermal and biological solutions for waste conversion.
Switzerland-based Hitachi Zosen Inova AG (HZI) signed an agreement with Axpo Kompogas Engineering AG on Oct. 24, 2014, to acquire the business under an asset deal. With more than 80 years of experience and more than 400 reference projects, HZI is one of the world’s leading providers of high-efficient energy-from-waste (EFW) technology and turnkey plants. Since its establishment in Switzerland in 1991, Axpo Kompogas Engineering AGhas constructed more than 70 biogas plants and gained a market share of around 30 percent to become a leader in its own segment, anaerobic digestion (AD).
“The two technologies complement each other ideally, generating energy from municipal residual and green waste respectively,” explains Franz-Josef Mengede, CEO of HZI.
In various regions around the world a trend is emerging towards the separate collection and recovery of biogenic waste. HZI is responding to this development by integrating AD into its own organization, and from now on will be able to offer its customers both thermal and biological solutions for sustainable waste-to-energy (WTE) conversion, it says.
“Thanks to our global market presence and expertise in plant construction we will be able to offer Kompogas plants worldwide in the future,” says Mengede.
The adoption of AD technology makes HZI the first company in the world to offer both technologies as in-house solutions. “We are proud that in future we will be able to offer our customers the best of both thermal and biological energy-from-waste technologies,” Mengede adds.
In addition to this, service and maintenance for existing Kompogas plants will be continued under HZI. The acquisition will enable HZI to address the specific market requirements emerging from the separate collection of biogenic waste. Axpo’s biogas generation business will concentrate on operating its 15 existing plants in Switzerland.
“We’re delighted to have found a new owner for our Axpo Kompogas Engineering AG plant construction unit in the shape of HZI,” explains Bettina Charrière, who heads Axpo’s New Energies Division. “Under HZI, Kompogas Engineering AG’s technological expertise in the construction of biogas plants will be able to continue developing and evolving while Axpo focuses on its core competence as leading executer of biomass plants.”
In addition to acquiring Kompogas Engineering AG’s know-how and all its licenses, Zurich-based HZI will also preserve jobs by taking on the majority of its staff. Completion of the final closing of the relevant contractual agreements is expected by mid-December 2014.
HZI is a global leader in energy from waste (EfW), operating as part of the Hitachi Zosen Corp. Group. HZI acts as an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor delivering complete turnkey plants and system solutions for energy recovery from waste. Its solutions are based on efficient and environmentally sound technology, are thoroughly tested, can be flexibly adapted to user requirements, and cover the entire plant life cycle. HZI works for customers ranging from experienced waste management companies to up-and-coming partners in new markets worldwide. HZI’s innovative and reliable thermal waste and flue gas treatment solutions have been part of more than 400 reference projects delivered since 1933.
Axpo has been working with its partners for 100 years to supply customers with electricity, and now serves around three million people in Switzerland. The company is active in the production, distribution and sale of electricity, as well as in international trading and the natural gas business. Axpo also offers innovative energy services to customers in Switzerland and Europe.
