EnviTec Biogas AG

Environmental & Social Information • Aug 31, 2009

News Details

Corporate | 31 August 2009 09:35

EnviTec Biogas ramps up first biogas plant in Italy: Feed-in compensation of 28 cents makes biogas attractive in Italy

EnviTec Biogas AG / Miscellaneous

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Lohne, 31 August 2009 - Renewable energies are gaining ground in Italy.
This also includes biogas as a sustainable source of energy. By the year
2020, the Italian government aims to cover 25 percent of the country's
energy consumption from renewable energies, which are being supported with
an attractive feed-in compensation. The feed-in tariff for biogas has been
fixed at 28 cents per kWh in July 2009 and is guaranteed for 15 years -
this is presently the highest feed-in compensation for biogas in Europe. In
addition, Italy grants plant operators tax privileges, making the operating
conditions even more attractive. Being the leading biogas plant
manufacturer and operator in Europe, EnviTec Biogas AG (ISIN: DE000A0MVLS8)
benefits from this market environment and has completed the first
successful transactions in the Italian market.

In July 2009, the company from Lohne, Germany, handed over a biogas plant
with a rated electrical output of 1 megawatt (MWel) to the operator, Volta
Energia, in Volta Mantovana near Verona. All of the electricity generated
here will be fed into the public grid. Liquid and sold manure from cattle
farming, maize and whole crop silage are processed as input materials. With
a view to reducing the plant's electricity consumption, EnviTec uses
fermenter separation for the first time. This process is managed in such a
way that part of the dry mass from the fermenter is separated from the
liquid phase, which is then returned to the process. The aim is to maintain
a constant dry matter content in the fermenter by ensuring optimum
operation of the stirrers in the fermenter. This reduces both the plant's
electricity consumption and the maintenance times. Another key feature of
the plant is the crossing of the feeding lines, which clearly minimises the
risk of a breakdown. The total investment volume of the Volta Mantovana
plant amounted to approx. EUR 4 million.

Another EnviTec plant with a rated electrical output of 250 kilowatts
(kWel) is currently in the warm-up phase. The plant is operated by a farmer
in Casaletto Ceredano near Cremona and runs exclusively on liquid manure
and pig feed remains. Some 45,000 cubic metres of liquid manure are needed
per year, all of which is supplied by the operator's own farm.

'Now that we have completed our first projects in Italy, we have
successfully positioned ourselves in this exciting market,' says Olaf von
Lehmden, CEO of EnviTec Biogas. 'Biogas is clearly gaining ground in Italy,
and thanks to attractive operating conditions and lucrative investment
possibilities, this also means new opportunities for farmers. We therefore
project a positive market trend, which we will support with our
technological and process expertise.' EnviTec is already planning
additional projects in Italy.

EnviTec Biogas AG covers the entire value chain for the production of
biogas - including the planning and turnkey construction of biogas plants
as well as their commissioning. The company provides the biological and
technical service and also offers the full plant and operating management.
In Güstrow, in the German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, EnviTec
build the world's largest plant for the production of biogas to natural gas
standards with an thermal output of 55 megawatts. In addition, the company
also operates its own biogas plants. Today, the company is represented in
more than 15 countries throughout Europe and as well in China and South
Korea. In 2008 EnviTec generated revenues of EUR 101 million and EBIT of
EUR 3.2 million. The EnviTec Group currently has about 350 employees. Since
July 2007 EnviTec is listed on the Prime Standard segment of the Frankfurt
Stock Exchange.

Special event: 8th EnviTec Biogas Conference on 4 September 2009 at the
Umweltforum in Berlin. For further information, check www.envitec-biogas.de

Investor Relations:
Olaf Brandes
EnviTec Biogas AG
Tel: +49 44 42 80 65-118
E-Mail: ir@envitec-biogas.de

Press Contact:
Fabian Lorenz, Grit Pauli
HOSCHKE & CONSORTEN Public Relations GmbH
Tel: +49 40 36 90 50- 56 /-31
E-Mail: f.lorenz@hoschke.de; g.pauli@hoschke.de

31.08.2009 Financial News transmitted by DGAP

Language: English
Issuer: EnviTec Biogas AG
Industriering 10a
49393 Lohne
Deutschland
Phone: +49 (0) 44 42 - 80 65 0
Fax: +49 (0) 44 42 - 80 65 103
E-mail: info@envitec-biogas.de
Internet: www.envitec-biogas.de
ISIN: DE000A0MVLS8
WKN: A0MVLS
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
in Berlin, Hannover, Düsseldorf, München, Hamburg, Stuttgart

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