Britain's first closed‑loop bio‑LNG system that converts organic food waste into the fuel that powers its own collection

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Nordsol's technology powers Britain's pioneering bio-LNG project

Nordsol’s expertise has crossed borders with our first international installation at RenEco’s facility in Rushden, UK. This groundbreaking project marks our transition from self-operated plants to delivering turnkey technology for clients.

Complete circularity
This innovative system transforms expired supermarket products into bio-LNG that powers the very trucks collecting this waste, creating a perfect circular economy. Food waste becomes fuel, part of which collects more food waste – a locally sustainable ecosystem in action.

Integration & innovation
Our specialized biomethane liquefaction technology connects seamlessly to RenEco’s existing biogas infrastructure. The addition of an on-site refueling station – a first for Nordsol – enables trucks to fuel directly at the production location, completing the circular loop.

Key achievements
About the plant
  • Location: Near Rushden, United Kingdom
  • Operational since: Q1 2025
  • Bio-LNG capacity: 3.4 kilotons per year
  • Feedstock biogas: Organic waste from the food supply chain, including expired products from major UK supermarkets like Sainsbury's
  • Purpose of bio-LNG: Heavy-duty road transport, powering over 8 million miles (13 million kilometers) of fossil-free transport annually

"We're proud to work with RenEco, true pioneers in creating local circular systems. Their innovative approach combining bio‑LNG with biomethane and electricity production offers remarkable flexibility in responding to market demands. This circular model isn't just sustainable ‑ it's smart business."

Léon van Bossum, CEO of Nordsol

The challenge of RenEco
Creating a circular fuel loop

RenEco identified an opportunity to use Nordsol’s technology to establish a circular system that transforms supermarket waste into bio-LNG, powering the same trucks that collect this waste.

Their key challenges were:

  • Creating a system where supermarket waste powers the collection vehicles
  • Maximizing biogas value by alternating between electricity, biomethane, and bio-LNG production
  • Decarbonizing both their own fleet and their customers’ heavy-duty trucks
  • Implementing convenient refueling infrastructure

RenEco needed a partner to provide cost-effective biogas-to-bio-LNG conversion technology.

About RenEco

RenEco is a major player in the renewable technology industry, providing unique integrated services to transform food by-products. They are passionate about their part in growing a sustainable circular economy, offering solutions and developing strong partnerships with their customers and suppliers. With ambitious projects underway, including Britain's first bio-LNG production plant, RenEco continues to advance within this continually developing industry.

"After extensive market research investigating how to decarbonize both our own HGV fleet and our retail customers' fleets, Nordsol was chosen as a long‑term partner to provide their liquefaction technology."

William Wykes, RenEco

Strategic collaboration: Technology and waste management expertise

Our collaboration with RenEco shows how innovation and vision create environmental impact.

This partnership combines:

  • RenEco’s waste expertise with existing biogas operations and relationships with major UK supermarkets
  • Nordsol’s bio-LNG technology for cost-effective biogas conversion
  • Retail commitment with Sainsbury’s powering 30 trucks from their Bristol distribution centre, saving 3,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually

The result is a replicable model where food waste powers the same logistics that serve supermarkets, demonstrating how cross-industry partnerships solve environmental challenges.

UK's first bio‑LNG production facility: Key achievements

The Rushden plant marks a significant milestone for bio-LNG in Britain:

  • Complete circular loop: Supermarket waste powers the trucks that collect it
  • Nordsol’s first international project as a technology provider
  • Integrated refueling solution allowing trucks to fuel directly at the facility
  • Technical integration with RenEco’s existing biogas upgrading system
  • Environmental impact: 10,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions avoided annually
  • Retail application: Powering 30 Sainsbury’s trucks with their own food waste
  • Production flexibility: Ability to shift between electricity, biomethane, and bio‑LNG production based on market demand

"We are proud to have worked closely with our supplier RenEco to deliver a pioneering move that supports our commitment to circularity and helps us to take a further step towards becoming net zero across our operations by 2035."

Patrick Dunne, Sainsbury's Chief Property and Procurement Officer

Future impact: From plant to UK infrastructure

As Europe seeks to reduce dependency on imported fossil fuels, this circular bio-LNG model demonstrates how local waste streams can effectively decarbonize the hard-to-abate transport sector today. The collaboration between technology providers, waste processors, and retailers proves that cross-industry partnerships enable innovative environmental solutions.

The Rushden facility serves as a first step in potentially establishing more bio-LNG plants across the UK, with a flexible production model that adapts to market conditions. Sainsbury’s implementation at their Bristol distribution centre proves the practical benefits for retailers with sustainability targets. As transportation sector demand grows, the economic viability of bio-LNG becomes increasingly attractive to biogas producers.

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