In Norway, regional district heating operator Eiker Bioenergi AS has been acquired by compatriot Norsk Bioenergi AS.
According to a statement, an agreement was reached in April 2022 between Norsk Bioenergi and the owners of Eiker Bioenergi, Sparebanken Øst, one of the largest independent savings banks in Norway, that the former will take over 100 percent of the shares in Eiker Bioenergi.
In reality, this means that the eight bioheat plants located in Buskerud and Vestfold in Eastern Norway owned and operated by Eiker Bioenergi, are transferred to Norsk Bioenergi’s portfolio as of May 2022.
Further details surrounding the transaction have not been disclosed.
Expands bioheat portfolio
Since its inception in 2007, Norsk Bioenergi has established around thirty biomass-fired heating plants around the country. Norsk Bioenergi’s portfolio is based on woodchips, briquettes, or pellets as fuel
With the acquisition of Eiker Bioenergi, annual energy delivery will approach 200 GWh in 2023/2024 making the company one of the larger players in the district energy sector.
Seven of Eiker Bioenergi facilities are woodchip-fueled while one is fired using wood pellets.
A good fit for further development
Norsk Bioenergi already has several woodchip-fired heating plants in the same area, in Mjøndalen and Lierbyen.
According to Jan Topstad, General Manager and co-owner of Norsk Bioenergi, the acquired plants “fit well into existing operating plans” to provide good and safe energy delivery, and create good synergies for the company.
Rune Isachsen, who through his holding company is a co-owner of Norsk Bioenergi, looks to further development of the facilities. In particular, the facility in Eiker Næringspark, a business park that he also owns.
Jan Topstad points out the that woodchip-fired plant at Fokserød in Vestfold is a plant with development potential on account of its location – adjacent to business areas, with perhaps a possible expansion to Torp Sandefjord Airport (TRF).
