The First Investment in Renewable Energy for Enovos in Belgium - Start-up of the Largest Biogas Plant in Limburg

STRASSEN, Luxembourg, September 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

On 31^st August 2012, Enovos Luxembourg S.A. and its project partners Pholpa B.V.B.A. and NPG energy N.V. celebrated the opening ceremony for the biogas plant "Biopower Tongeren" in the province of Limburg, Belgium. In presence of a.o. the Minister of Economy & Innovation, Ingrid Lieten, the Mayor of the City of Tongeren, Patrick Dewael and Jean Lucius, CEO Enovos Luxembourg, the engines were started and will run on average 8.200 hours a year.

For Enovos Luxembourg, this represents the first investment in renewable energy in Belgium. Furthermore, this biogas plant is the first of its kind in the Benelux using a pre-fermentation tank that enables a higher biogas production.

Located in a predominantly agricultural area, the biogas plant will mainly ferment corn that is grown in close cooperation with local farmers within a 20 km radius. The resulting environmentally friendly biogas is converted into electricity via a motor and is then fed into the local power grid. The heat resulting from the process is used to dry the fermentation substrates. These substrates are returned to the fields as low-odour, high-quality fertilisers, thus producing a closed cycle.

"With a capacity of 2.8 MW, the amount of electricity generated corresponds to the annual consumption of 6,500 households and an annual CO₂ reduction of 10,000 tonnes, thus achieving an important step towards further expanding renewable energies," says Daniel Christnach, Head of Renewable Energies & Cogeneration at Enovos Luxembourg. In cooperation with the project partners, the plant's capacity can optionally be subsequently expanded to 5.6 MW which would be enough to provide green power to all households of the City of Tongeren.

Jean Lucius, CEO Enovos Luxembourg highlights: "The participation in the Biopower Tongeren emphasises Enovos' consistent commitment to the field of renewable energy and we are pleased that with this first project we were able to assert this message on the Belgium market."

Enovos Luxembourg S.A. holds a stake of 24.9%. The project developers NPG Energy N.V. and Pholpa B.V.B.A. are involved as additional partners in the project company, Biopower Tongeren N.V., each with 47.6% and 27.5% respectively.

Enovos Luxembourg S.A. - Natural gas, electricity and services

As a major energy supplier on the Luxembourg, German, French and Belgian energy markets, Enovos Luxembourg's mission consists of generating electricity, natural gas and renewable energy for industries, SMBs, distributors and private households and in delivering it to them. On the Belgian market, Enovos Luxembourg currently delivers electricity, natural gas and related services only to SMBs and industrial customers.

In addition to its traditional core business, the company is expanding its activities mostly in the field of renewable energy.

Enovos Luxembourg is 100% owned by Enovos International S.A., a holding company with its headquarters in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg which also acts as an umbrella for the management of the grid operator, Creos Luxembourg S.A.

Expressed in numbers, the Enovos Group currently comprises more than 1,300 employees, over 280,000 points of delivery (electricity and natural gas), in excess of 9,000 km of electric lines and more than 3,600 km of gas pipelines. In 2011, the group achieved a turnover of EUR 2.5 billion.

25.44% of Enovos International S.A. belongs to Luxembourg State, 10.01% to the state-owned investment bank SNCI and 8.00% to the City of Luxembourg. AXA Private Equity owns 23.48%, RWE owns 18.36%, E.ON accounts for 10.00% and Electrabel holds a stake of 4.71%.

For more information, please visit: enovos.eu