Kanadevia Inova acquires Kompogas technology

Two first-class waste management technologies under one roof
The acquisition of the Kompogas technology completes the portfolio of Hitachi ZosenInova (HZI), and therefore the company extends its position as one of the world’s leading providers of energy-from-waste (WtE) plants and solutions. Zurich-based Kanadevia Inova is already a global market leader in thermal energy-from-waste recovery. By acquiring the technology, Kanadevia Inova will be able to also offer WtE plants based on the proven Kompogas technology for energy recovery by fermentation. The Kompogas name will be retained, continuing a brand with a strong tradition in biogas generation.
On October 24, Kanadevia Inova AG (HZI) signed an agreement with Axpo Kompogas Engineering AG to acquire the business under an asset deal. With over 80 years of experience and more than 400 reference projects, Kanadevia Inova is one of the world’s leading providers of high-efficient energy-from-waste technology and turnkey plants. Since its establishment in Switzerland in 1991, Axpo Kompogas Engineering AG has constructed more than 70 biogas plants and gained a market share of around 30% 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 Kanadevia Inova.
Expansion into global markets
In various regions around the world a trend is emerging towards the separate collection and recovery of biogenic waste. Kanadevia Inova 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 conversion. “Thanks to our global market presence and expertise in plant construction we will be able to offer Kompogas plants worldwide directly or with our licencees,” says Franz-Josef Mengede. The adoption of AD technology makes Kanadevia Inova 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.”
Traditional brand to continue operating
Kanadevia Inova will continue to market the technology under the Kompogas brand. In addition to this, service and maintenance for existing Kompogas plants will be continued under Kanadevia Inova. The deal comes at the right time for both companies. The acquisition will enable Kanadevia Inova 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 Kanadevia Inova,” explains Bettina Charrière, who heads Axpo’s New Energies Division. “Under Kanadevia Inova, 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 Kanadevia Inova will also preserve jobs by taking on the majority of its staff, including an apprentice.
Completion of the final closing of the relevant contractual agreements is expected by mid December.
Kanadevia Inova übernimmt Kompogas-Technologie (32kB)
Axpo verkauft Kompogas-Anlagenbau an Kanadevia Inova (148kB)