Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) has reached a final investment decision on Via Verde, an Italian biomethane platform, marking both the first deployment of its Advanced Bioenergy Fund II (ABF II) and the Danish fund manager's entry into the Italian biomethane market.

The announcement, made on October 7, 2026, positions CIP within one of the fastest-developing renewable gas markets in Europe.

A first for ABF II

The investment was made through ABF II, a fund that invests primarily in the development, construction, and operation of biogas plants across Europe, converting agricultural waste and other sustainable feedstock into biomethane. Via Verde represents the fund's first investment since its launch.

According to CIP, ABF II started fundraising in summer 2025. The fund leverages the seed portfolio and in-house capabilities that CIP built over the four years of its predecessor, CI ABF I, offering investors what the firm describes as an attractive product in terms of returns and diversified risks.

The Via Verde investment is expected to create local jobs and supply domestically produced biomethane that will replace imported fossil gas. CIP says this will support both Italy's energy independence and its decarbonisation efforts.

A pipeline of 20 projects across Italy

Via Verde comprises a development pipeline of 20 biomethane projects strategically located across multiple regions of Italy, including Lombardy, Abruzzo, and Campania. Each plant is expected to process approximately 60,000 to 100,000 tonnes of agricultural waste annually.

Once all 20 projects are fully operational, the platform is expected to deliver approximately 1 TWh of biomethane per year. CIP puts that figure in context by equating it to the annual gas consumption of around 60,000 Italian households.

The company states that the platform, supported by favourable market fundamentals and policy support mechanisms, is expected to establish an early at-scale position in the Italian biomethane market and contribute to the expansion of domestic renewable gas production.

Strategic entry into an "attractive" market

Andreas F. Brandt, Partner at CIP, framed the investment as a deliberate strategic entry point. "Via Verde marks our entry into one of Europe's most attractive biomethane markets, giving us a strong foothold as Italy scales towards its 2030 biomethane targets," he said in the announcement.

Brandt added that CIP will draw on its advanced bioenergy expertise to support Via Verde's experienced local team and what he described as a substantial project pipeline. "We believe biomethane will play a key role in strengthening Italy's energy independence and supporting its transition to a lower-carbon energy system," he said.

Backdrop: a growing energy infrastructure investor

CIP, founded in 2012, is a global fund manager focused on energy infrastructure. Through its funds, it invests in power generation from solar and wind, energy storage, transmission and distribution, advanced bioenergy, low-carbon fuels, and carbon capture.

The firm currently manages 15 funds and is trusted by more than 200 institutional investors, having raised approximately USD 48.46 billion to date. CIP reports projects in more than 30 countries, with a workforce exceeding 2,300 professionals on the ground.

The Via Verde transaction is the firm's first biomethane platform investment in Italy, adding to a European bioenergy portfolio strategy built around converting agricultural waste and other sustainable feedstocks into gas that can displace fossil imports.

Outlook

CIP says the Via Verde platform is positioned for long-term growth in the Italian market as the country works toward its 2030 biomethane targets. With the final investment decision now taken, the platform's 20-project pipeline moves from development toward construction and operation across the three Italian regions identified at launch.

The company notes that all statements regarding expected outcomes, including the projected 1 TWh annual output, per-plant feedstock volumes, and market positioning, are forward-looking and subject to risks and uncertainties, including economic conditions, regulatory requirements, and market competition.

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