Award-winning Grosvenor Farms in Cheshire has broken ground on a major renewable energy project that will turn agricultural waste into National Grid-ready biomethane — generating enough renewable gas to heat around 6,000 homes a year.
The initiative, at Grosvenor’s Eaton Estate, marks a significant expansion of the farm’s circular and regenerative approach and is designed to strengthen the UK’s energy resilience while cutting carbon emissions.
The project involves investment in an anaerobic digester and integrated biogas upgrading facility. Once operational, the plant is expected to produce more than 72 GWh of biomethane annually from up to 170,000 tonnes of manure, avoiding an estimated 8,500 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions each year.
The biomethane will be injected directly into the National Transmission System, with the high-pressure gas network running alongside the facility. The connection will be made through underground pipes, allowing the renewable gas to enter the national network with minimal impact on the surrounding landscape.
The process will also produce digestate — a nutrient-rich organic fertiliser that can be returned to the farm, reducing reliance on resource-intensive inorganic fertilisers and supporting soil health.
Anaerobic digestion can also improve air quality by capturing pollutants such as ammonia. Meanwhile, CO₂ produced during the biogas upgrading process will be captured and liquefied for industrial reuse as Bio CO₂.
Mark Roach, Managing Director of Grosvenor Farms, said: “This is a hugely significant investment into the future of farming at Grosvenor, strengthening our commitment to operating in both a commercially sustainable and environmentally responsible way.
“We believe the facility will result in an estimated 8,500 tonnes of CO2 equivalent avoided a year - equal to taking 1,800 cars off the road - while generating enough biomethane, a renewable energy, to heat 6,000 homes annually, contributing to the UK’s resources via the national grid.”
The development is also expected to deliver a boost to the local rural economy. Four permanent jobs will be created once the facility is operational, in addition to employment generated during construction.
The plant could eventually go a step further by producing biomethane for use in Grosvenor Farm’s own vehicle fleet.
Specialist Netherlands-based firm HoSt Bioenergy Systems, a global leader in renewable energy, has been commissioned to construct the facility.
The plant is being built at Grosvenor Farms to maximise access to existing infrastructure while limiting its impact on the landscape, nearby roads and the wider environment.
Sjaak Klein Gunnewiek, Head of Sales at HoSt Bioenergy Systems, said: “The collaboration between Grosvenor Farms and HoSt Bioenergy Systems on the realisation of an anaerobic digestion facility is a powerful example of how agriculture and technology come together to accelerate the energy transition. Together, we are reducing the nation’s carbon footprint and actively contributing to more resilient systems and sustainable farming practices in the UK. Partnerships like this are essential to reach our shared climate ambitions.”
