• Schroders Greencoat has acquired 100% of APF Energy, a Dutch biomethane platform with six assets and a late-stage development pipeline.
• The platform converts agricultural manure and food by-products into biomethane, helping address livestock-related nitrate challenges in the Netherlands.
• The deal strengthens Schroders Greencoat’s exposure to renewable gas, a sector tied to Europe’s energy security, grid resilience, and fossil fuel reduction goals.

Schroders Greencoat has acquired a 100% stake in APF Energy, a growing Dutch biomethane platform, as institutional capital continues to move into renewable gas infrastructure across Europe.

The acquisition was made on behalf of Schroders Capital’s global strategy and semi-liquid funds. APF Energy was sold by SWEN Capital Partners, through its direct impact strategy, SWEN Impact Fund for Transition, and APF BV.

The deal gives Schroders Greencoat ownership of a platform with six assets in the Netherlands. Three sites are fully operational, while three are under construction. APF Energy also has a late-stage pipeline, giving the investor a route to scale production in one of Europe’s more developed renewable gas markets.

Biomethane Gains Ground In Europe’s Energy Mix

APF Energy generates biomethane from a mix of agricultural manure and food by-products. That feedstock base is strategically important in the Netherlands, where livestock intensity has created persistent nitrate and nutrient management challenges.

The country also has one of Europe’s densest gas distribution networks. That makes it a strong market for biomethane, which can be injected into existing gas infrastructure as a direct substitute for natural gas.

For policymakers and investors, the appeal is twofold. Biomethane can cut emissions from organic waste and agriculture. It can also reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels, a priority that has gained urgency since Europe’s energy crisis.

The asset class sits at the intersection of climate policy, energy security, and infrastructure investment. It is especially relevant for hard-to-electrify sectors, where renewable electricity alone may not provide an immediate pathway to decarbonization.

Minal Patel, Global Head of Infrastructure at Schroders Capital, said: “Biomethane has an increasingly important role to play in the European energy transition, particularly in sectors where other low-carbon solutions are less readily available.

“The Netherlands is one of the more advanced markets due to its mature regulatory framework, strong policy support for renewable gas and well-established infrastructure. This platform gives us a strong foothold from which to apply the expertise we have built across our bioenergy portfolio.”

Schroders Builds On Bioenergy Track Record

Schroders Greencoat has already invested in anaerobic digestion and biofuels across the UK and Germany. The firm said that experience will help it scale APF Energy and target returns in a sector becoming more central to Europe’s low-carbon transition.

James Reid, Investment Director, Schroders Greencoat, added: “This transaction is an example of our focus on established platforms with operational assets, a clear development pathway for pipeline assets and exposure to a segment of the energy transition where the structural case is compelling. We look forward to working closely with APF Energy’s management team to continue scaling the platform and drive forward the decarbonisation of the Dutch energy system.”

The acquisition also reflects a broader shift in infrastructure investing. Investors are looking beyond wind and solar into transition assets that use existing systems while cutting emissions. Renewable gas platforms can fit that mandate, especially where regulation, feedstock supply, and grid access are already in place.

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APF Energy Moves Into Its Next Growth Phase

For APF Energy, the transaction brings in a long-term infrastructure investor with sector expertise and access to capital.

Marco Middelkoop, CEO, at APF Energy, commented: “APF Energy would like to sincerely thank SWEN Capital Partners and APF BV for their support and trust throughout the development of APF Energy, which has enabled us to build the platform to its current stage of maturity. We are delighted to welcome Schroders Greencoat as our new shareholder and look forward to working closely together to further scale the platform, optimise operations and accelerate the contribution of biomethane to the Dutch energy transition.”

SWEN Capital Partners framed the sale as proof of its renewable molecules strategy and its role in building the platform from an earlier stage.

François Pasquier, Managing Director and Grégoire Allemandou, Principal at SWEN CP, concluded: “We are delighted to have supported APF Energy since the early stages of its development, helping to build a robust and growing biomethane platform in the Netherlands. Schroders Greencoat’s deep expertise in bioenergy and energy transition infrastructure makes them the great partner to take the platform to its next stage of growth. We are also particularly pleased that this transaction marks the first exit from our second vintage, SWEN Impact Fund for transition 2 (SWIFT 2), reflecting our strategy of backing high-quality platforms in the renewable molecules sector.”

For Europe’s energy transition, the deal points to a practical theme. Decarbonization will not rely only on new power assets. It will also depend on using existing infrastructure more efficiently, turning waste streams into fuel, and scaling local alternatives to imported gas.

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