Acorn Bioenergy, a United Kingdom (UK) based developer of anaerobic digestion (AD) facilities, is on its way to becoming the nation’s leading producer of biomethane and green CO₂.

With more than a dozen AD sites under development across England and Scotland, Acorn is poised to generate over 1.5 TWh of biomethane annually - enough to heat more than 100,000 homes - while delivering carbon savings equivalent to planting 15 million trees.

A Vision for Decarbonisation

Acorn’s approach to decarbonisation is rooted in circularity and local impact. Their AD plants convert agricultural residues, wastes, and break crops grown as part of sustainable crop rotations into biomethane and green CO₂, which is captured and reused in industrial and transportation applications. This not only displaces fossil-derived natural gas and CO₂ but also supports the UK’s energy transition goals.

More than a dozen

biomethane plants under development

1.5 TWh/year

of biomethane generated

100,000+ homes/year

supplied with renewable gas

15 million

trees worth of carbon savings

Zero pipeline

deployment needed thanks to Mobile Pipeline®

The Infrastructure Challenge

With the scale of its ambition, and its focus on agri-based feedstocks, Acorn faced a familiar challenge:

Many of its, largely rural, production sites are difficult if not impossible to connect to the national gas grid.

Direct connection to the grid in rural areas is not always feasible, or can be prohibitively expensive and time-consuming.

The Solution: Hexagon Agility's Mobile Pipeline®

To overcome this logistical challenge, Acorn partnered with Hexagon Agility, selecting its Mobile Pipeline® solution to transport biomethane from their remote production sites to end users and grid injection points.

Mobile Pipeline® modules use Type 4 composite cylinders, which are 75% lighter than steel alternatives and corrosion-free, while offering the most storage capacity of any composite cylinder.

“We made the decision to exclusively use modules with Type 4 cylinders in our virtual pipeline for both technical and commercial reasons. Hexagon Agility’s Mobile Pipeline X-STORE® modules offer the most storage capacity of any Type 4 equipment on the market, which is crucial for reducing road movements and minimizing mileage."

Daniel Lambert
,
Downstream & Innovation Director, Acorn Bioenergy

Acorn’s virtual pipeline is not only efficient – it is also self-sustaining.

The company can fuel its own fleet of heavy-goods vehicles and trucks (HGVs) that make up its virtual pipeline with the very biomethane it produces, creating a closed-loop logistics model that reduces emissions and costs, while maximizing the environmental benefit of every molecule transported.

“We were impressed by Hexagon Agility’s excellent customer service and technical knowledge throughout the procurement process. Now that the first units are in operation, we are convinced we made the right decision and look forward to a long and successful relationship.”

Daniel Lambert
,
Downstream & Innovation Director, Acorn Bioenergy

About Acorn Bioenergy

Acorn Bioenergy is a UK-based renewable energy company specialising in biomethane production through anaerobic digestion. By working closely with local farmers, Acorn turns organic waste into clean energy and useful by-products such as bio-fertiliser and green CO₂. This approach supports sustainable agriculture, drives rural economic development, and advances the circular economy. With several sites under development across the UK, Acorn is committed to creating long-term value for local communities and contributing to a more resilient and prosperous future.

About Mobile Pipeline®

Hexagon Agility’s Mobile Pipeline® is the market leader and industry benchmark for transporting compressed gases like biomethane. With over 2,250 modules in operation globally, it enables off-grid energy delivery with unmatched safety, capacity, and cost-effectiveness.

Acorn Bioenergy and Hexagon Agility: Enabling the UK’s biomethane revolution