AGR Renewables reaches financial close with Greencoat Capital on £86m sustainable Fenland Greenhouse

AGR Renewables is delighted to announce that it has achieved financial close on its £86m sustainable Fenland Greenhouse with Greencoat Capital. AGR has signed an EPC agreement for the delivery of the project.

Fenland Greenhouse is UK’s largest sustainable greenhouse project spanning over 60 hectares. Powered by an adjacent 9MW sustainable energy centre and a 33MWth open-loop heat pump system, the greenhouse is designed to consume 30% less Co2 than traditional greenhouses, reducing the total carbon emission by nearly 60%.

By incorporating LED technology powered by the sustainable energy centre, the Greenhouse is designed to accelerate crop growth and increase year-round yields by 27%.

The ambitious initiative encompasses over 22 hectares of covered grass surfaces lid by 217.000 sqm of LED lighting, completed with over 12.8km of gas infrastructure, 2.5km of water infrastructure, and 6.8km of electrical infrastructure.

Upon completion in Q4 2022, Fenland Greenhouse will have capacity to grow up to 2.5 million cucumbers per week and supply over 10% of UK’s total annual cucumber consumption. The facility will provide over 300 full-time seasonal jobs.

The landmark partnership with Greencoat will see AGR as main EPC contractor for the project’s construction, delivery, and subsequent operational and technical maintenance. By partnering with local companies and subcontractors throughout the construction and operation phases, the project is expected to generate significant employment opportunities and support the local economy.

AGR Renewables acknowledges the support of the local community and relevant authorities throughout the planning process, which has been vital in ensuring the project’s success.

Konrad Aspinall and Oliver Breidt, Co-Founders, AGR: “We are immensely proud of our ambitious initiative which cements AGR’s entrance into UK’s sustainable agriculture sector with one of the largest projects in the nation. The project highlights the synergies between energy and agriculture and supports UK’s ambition towards food security and transition to net-zero.”