Ashurst advises Future Biogas on launch of UK's first unsubsidised biomethane plant

Global law firm Ashurst has advised its long-standing client Future Biogas on the development of Moor Bioenergy - the UK’s first unsubsidised biomethane plant, launched in conjunction with AstraZeneca. The facility, located in Gonerby Moor, Lincolnshire, is now fully operational and has been injecting biomethane into the national gas grid since last week.

The anaerobic digestion plant fuelled by energy crops and food crops will, as announced last week by AstraZeneca, provide clean heat for all of AstraZeneca’s R&D and manufacturing in the UK, supporting sustainable production of medicines. The plant will supply 100 GWh of renewable energy annually to AstraZeneca UK, equivalent to 20% of the Company’s total global gas consumption, displacing approximately 18,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions per year from fossil gas. The plant will also generate enough biomethane to heat the equivalent of over 8,000 homes a year, boosting the UK's green energy capacity.

The Ashurst team was led by Cameron Smith and the wider team included associates Emma Jamieson and Caroline Reid as well as Real Estate counsel David Razzell.

Commenting, lead partner Cameron Smith said: "It is fantastic to be advising on this landmark matter that will go some way to strengthening the UK’s renewable energy infrastructure. Ashurst was able to utilise its extensive experience in the anaerobic digestion sector and biogas projects to navigate and structure a novel and innovative gas supply, sleeving and shipping arrangement with AstraZeneca and Shell. We are also hoping that the structure we put in place forms a precedent that will enable the potential of AD plants to be unlocked, enabling the further decarbonisation of other UK industrial facilities."