PLUTA restructuring expert Daniel Barth appointed provisional administrator for power-to-gas specialist MicroPyros

By an order of 19 February 2020, the Local Court of Straubing appointed Mr Daniel Barth from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH as provisional insolvency administrator for MicroPyros GmbH. The company specialising in renewable energy had to file for insolvency due to liquidity problems. A planned funding round could not be completed.

The provisional insolvency administrator has gained an initial overview of the company’s current situation. PLUTA restructuring expert Mr Daniel Barth said, “Business operations will be continued. Employee salaries are guaranteed for a period of three months thanks to specific substitute benefits provided under German insolvency law.” The administrator is working with management to find a long-term solution for the company.

MicroPyros managing director Prof Dr Raimund Brotsack explained, “Findings from more than 30 years of research and development in the field of microbiology are incorporated into the biological methanation carried out by MicroPyros. Our technology is proven and we already have plants in operation. The current situation is challenging for all concerned. We will support the provisional administrator to the best of our abilities over the weeks ahead in order to ensure a future for MicroPyros.”

MicroPyros, founded in 2012, is supporting the energy industry in the transition from fossil-fuelled power generation to a renewable energy supply by means of microbiological power-to-gas technology. The company has developed a cost-effective and efficient process for producing eco-friendly methane, whereby selected microorganisms convert both carbon dioxide (CO2) from waste gas or biogas and hydrogen (H2) into methane of natural gas quality (e-methane). The e-methane thus produced can be distributed through the existing grid and used in current technical systems (gas power plants, industrial processes, vehicles, etc.).

Energy producers can all but double the methane content of their biogas from approx. 50% to almost 100% using the MicroPyros technology. In conventional biogas plants, mostly CHP units convert biogas into electricity, but with only 40% efficiency. The rest accumulates as heat. This thermal energy is then wasted if not used in a district heating network.