Qualitas Energy, Through Acorn Bioenergy, Inaugurates First UK Renewable Biomethane Facility ‘Three Maids’ In Winchester To Generate 120 GWh Annually For 9,000 Homes
Representational image. Credit: Canva
Qualitas Energy, a global investment and management platform specializing in renewable energy, the energy transition, and sustainable infrastructure, has inaugurated its first renewable biomethane facility in the United Kingdom. The project, known as Three Maids, is located at Three Maids Hill in Winchester and has been developed through Acorn Bioenergy, a Qualitas Energy portfolio company.
The anaerobic digestion (AD) plant is designed to process around 83,600 tonnes of local agricultural waste, residues, and break crops each year. In doing so, it will generate more than 120 GWh of biomethane annually—sufficient to meet the heating needs of over 9,000 homes. In addition to its energy output, the facility has already created 15 direct jobs and is expected to support up to 50 roles across engineering, agriculture, and the wider infrastructure supply chain.
Three Maids is the first of a dozen planned AD plants under development across England and Scotland. Once complete, the network is expected to inject more than 1.5 TWh of biomethane annually into the UK’s national grid through four dedicated gas injection hubs. Acorn Bioenergy, Qualitas Energy’s biomethane platform, aims to become a leading supplier of renewable gas and green CO₂ across the UK.
Speaking on the launch, Oscar Pérez, Managing Partner and CEO of Qualitas Energy, described it as a milestone in advancing the UK’s energy transition. He highlighted that biomethane is a locally sourced, renewable fuel capable of delivering immediate carbon reductions, complementing variable sources like wind and solar while boosting national energy security. Sarah Jones, the UK Minister for Industry, also welcomed the development, noting its contribution to secure, clean energy supply and its potential to strengthen local communities through job creation.
Beyond clean energy generation, the facility contributes to emissions reduction by preventing approximately 30,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually—the equivalent of planting 1.2 million trees or removing 15,000 cars from the road. The process also produces nutrient-rich digestate, which is returned to nearby farms to enhance soil quality and reduce dependence on imported chemical fertilisers.
Alister Veitch, Head of Business Development at Acorn Bioenergy, said that Three Maids stands as a flagship project demonstrating the role of renewable biogas in powering homes, supporting farming communities, and helping the UK achieve its net-zero targets. With its broader development pipeline, Acorn Bioenergy aims to eventually supply up to a quarter of the UK’s biomethane needs. Through the launch of Three Maids and its wider AD programme, Qualitas Energy is deepening its role in shaping a cleaner, more secure, and more sustainable energy future for the United Kingdom.