SmartestEnergy and Zenco partner to bring 420GWh biomethane project to market

SmartestEnergy will exclusively market the Renewable Gas Guarantees of Origin (RGGOs) and associated environmental products from Zenco's new UK bioenergy facility, which combines established anaerobic digestion technology with scalable seaweed-based feedstock

London, 13 October 2026 - SmartestEnergy, the renewables-focused energy company helping independent generators and businesses navigate the energy transition, has signed a long-term biomethane offtake and environmental products agreement with Zenco Group, a UK-based marine renewable gas developer, to support a new bioenergy development project.

The facility is expected to produce up to 420GWh of renewable gas annually, with commercial operations currently scheduled to begin in 2028. The development will be delivered in two phases: the first will focus on producing biomethane for injection into the gas grid, while the second will introduce renewable fuel production, enabling the opportunities to optimise between biomethane and renewable fuels. Once fully developed, the project is expected to become one of the largest renewable gas and renewable fuels facilities in the UK. Under the agreement, SmartestEnergy will act as offtaker for the biomethane and exclusively market the RGGOs and other environmental products from the facility.

The agreement was developed by SmartestEnergy's origination, structuring and environmental products teams, and highlights the company's role in bringing low-carbon infrastructure projects to market. SmartestEnergy will provide the commercial route to market for the project, alongside optimisation and environmental products expertise, as it moves towards commercial operation and beyond.

A distinctive feature of the project is Zenco’s approach to feedstock.  The facility will use established anaerobic digestion (AD) technology, with Zenco’s sustainability cultivated, seaweed-based feedstock integrated as cultivation scales. It is scheduled to become the first AD plant to run fully on this feedstock. Grown at sea, seaweed does not compete with food crops for land or fresh water, offering a potential solution to some of the challenges associated with scaling up bioenergy production in the UK.

Biomethane is an increasingly important area for SmartestEnergy, which is exploring opportunities to build a portfolio of European Gas Purchase Agreements (GPAs) covering both the physical delivery of biomethane and the associated GO traded by its Global Environmental Markets team. Renewable gas can play a key role in decarbonising sectors which are difficult to electrify, such as industry, transport, shipping and heating, while RGGOs allow businesses to evidence its use. The agreement with Zenco is an important step in this strategy, and the two companies expect to build on the partnership as Zenco expands.

Vishnu Aggarwal, Vice President, Global Environmental Markets Trading at SmartestEnergy said, “Greater investment in renewable gas will enable biomethane to play a bigger role in the energy transition across the UK and Europe.  Our agreement with Zenco combines proven anaerobic digestion technology and a scalable feedstock for the future with our expertise in providing a commercial route to market. Energy Attribute instruments such as Guarantees of Origin and Proof of Sustainability are becoming important tools for supporting decarbonisation claims, emissions reductions and regulatory compliance as businesses work towards net zero. We look forward to helping scale up renewable gas production as the partnership develops.”

Sean McNeill, Founder and CEO at Zenco Group said, “At Zenco, our mission is to strengthen energy resilience by producing sustainable gas and fuels that are grown, not extracted, and can utilise the infrastructure society already depends upon. We believe the greatest opportunities come from combining innovation with proven industry expertise. Our partnership with SmartestEnergy allows us to focus on what we do best, developing and producing defossilised energy and fuels from sustainable marine feedstocks, while entrusting the commercial route to market, energy trading and market optimisation to a partner with decades of experience. Together, we're creating a commercially focused pathway to deliver scalable, domestically produced renewable energy, reducing dependence on fossil resources without competing for agricultural land or freshwater.”