Ruhe Agrar

What Ruhe Agrar does

Ruhe Agrar GmbH is a family-owned German agricultural and energy business founded in 2010 by Kunibert Ruhe and Thomas Rolfes, headquartered in Lüsche, Lower Saxony. The company operates a closed-loop circular economy that integrates crop farming, livestock (approximately 3,000–5,000 cattle fattened under Haltungsform 3 welfare standards), and anaerobic digestion of agricultural residues (manure, silage) into five main biogas plants with combined electrical capacity exceeding 13 MW. Generated biogas drives combined heat and power (CHP) units that feed electricity into the public grid and supply district heating (Fernwärme) to more than 900 direct households across Darchau, Vehlow, and Parmen (the latter covering approximately 12,200 households in the Uckermark region).

The company's product set spans renewable electricity from biogas, district heating, Bio-LNG fuel produced at Germany's first compact Bio-LNG plant in Darchau (commissioned 2022), sustainable crop farming, beef cattle production, and ancillary services including two 24-hour fuel stations, biogas plant maintenance through subsidiary Ruhe Biogas Service GmbH, and a biodiversity meadow sponsorship program (Blühpatenschaft). Bio-LNG offtake is anchored by a long-term supply contract with Q1 Energie AG for the 'Green Line Liquid' project, targeting the transportation and heavy-duty vehicle market.

Revenue is generated through a mix of feed-in tariff electricity sales to the grid, subscription-style district heating contracts with households and municipal customers, transaction-based Bio-LNG fuel sales and fuel station revenue, and agricultural product sales. The go-to-market is regional B2B and B2C focused on Northern and Eastern Germany, leveraging direct supply relationships with households via district heating networks, partnerships with local agricultural cooperatives and municipalities, and community engagement through farm festivals and sponsorship programs. The company holds 18 wholly-owned subsidiaries, runs operations across seven states, and is currently implementing a 2024 efficiency program involving a roughly 50-position workforce reduction, withdrawal from grain cultivation, and vendor rationalization in response to deteriorating Bio-LNG market conditions and rising input costs.

Name

Ruhe Agrar

Legal name

Ruhe Agrar GmbH

Website

https://ruhe-agrar.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Ruhe Agrar is a family-owned German agricultural energy business operating biogas plants, district heating, Bio-LNG fuel production, and cattle fattening across multiple sites in Northern and Eastern Germany, serving regional households, municipalities, and transportation fuel buyers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Renewable Energy and Agricultural Production

NAICS

Biomass Electric Power Generation (221117), Electric Power Generation (22111), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)

SIC

Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Biogas/RNG Plant Operations, Maintenance & Asset Management (EUAAAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

District Energy Biomass Plants (Heating Networks) (EUAAAGAB), Biogas/RNG Plant Development, EPC & Project Delivery (EUAAAEAH), Agricultural Residues & Energy Crops Biomass Power (Stover, Bagasse, Pellets) (EUACAIAF), Bioenergy & Industrial Biomass Crop Farming (Energy Cane, Miscanthus, Switchgrass) (AFAGAGAI), Manure & Organic Residuals Feedstock Supply (Farm Organics for AD/RNG) (EUAAAFAK)

Keywords

• Biogas energy production
• District heating supply
• Agricultural operations
• Bio-LNG fuel
• Cattle fattening

Headquarters

HQ city

Luschendorf

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Biogas Electricity Generation: Five biogas plants with 2.74 MWel/h each produce electricity fed into the public grid, covering the annual electricity needs of 25,700 three-person households.
2. District Heating (Fernwärme): Heat from CHP units is distributed via modern district heating networks to over 900 households and public facilities.
3. Bio-LNG Fuel Sales: Green fuel production from agricultural residues for trucks, buses, tractors, and ships. Long-term supply contract with Q1 Energie AG.
4. Cattle Fattening (Rindermast): Approximately 5,000-6,000 cattle fattened under Haltungsform 3 standards for meat production.
5. 24-Hour Fuel Stations: Two 24-hour fuel stations in Lüsche and Hausstette offering fuel products.
6. Agricultural Operations: Crop farming including fodder production, grain cultivation, and sustainable land management.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ruhe Agrar operates five biogas plants (each 2.74 MWel/h) that produce renewable electricity fed into the public grid, district heating supplied via proprietary district heating networks to over 900 households, Bio-LNG fuel produced from agricultural residues, sustainable crop farming, and cattle fattening under Haltungsform 3 welfare standards. The company integrates all activities in a closed-loop circular economy connecting agricultural inputs, biogas production, district heating, fertilizer byproducts, and livestock operations across multiple locations in Northern and Eastern Germany.

Product overview

Ruhe Agrar is an agricultural family business operating biogas energy production and farming operations across multiple locations in Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Saxony-Anhalt. The company's integrated circular economy model combines five biogas plants (with four producing 2.74 MWel each) for renewable electricity and district heating, sustainable crop farming, and cattle fattening operations. Key products include electricity and heat from biogas, Bio-LNG fuel production, sustainable agriculture, and cattle fattening (Haltungsform 3), complemented by 24-hour fuel stations, biogas plant maintenance services (via Ruhe Biogas Service GmbH), and biodiversity sponsorship programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RUHE Biogas: Biogas division focused on building, operating, and servicing Bio-LNG plants for production of green fuel for trucks, buses, tractors, and ships.
• RUHE Biogas Bio-LNG-Anlagen
• Ruhe Biogas Service GmbH

Products and services

• Strom aus Biogas (Electricity from Biogas) Sustainable electricity generation from biogas produced through anaerobic digestion of agricultural inputs (manure, silage). Combined capacity of 10.96 MWel, feeding renewable electricity into the public grid to cover the annual electricity needs of 25,700 three-person households. Sold to grid operators.
• Wärme aus Biogas (District Heating from Biogas) District heating network supplied by waste heat from biogas combined heat and power (CHP) units. One of the most modern district heating networks in Germany, connecting over 900 households and public facilities in Northern and Eastern Germany to CO2-neutral bio-heating.
• Nachhaltige Landwirtschaft (Sustainable Agriculture) Crop farming operations including fodder production and grain cultivation using modern technology and diverse crop rotation. Includes cover crops and undersown crops to maintain soil health and minimize input use. Sold to regional agricultural buyers and processors.
• Rindermast (Cattle Fattening) Beef cattle fattening operations with approximately 5,000 animals housed according to Haltungsform 3 animal welfare standards. Features automated feeding systems (feeding robots and shuttles) at multiple locations including Picher and Neu Jabel.
• 24-Stunden-Tankstellen (24-Hour Gas Stations) Two company-owned 24-hour fuel stations located in Lüsche and Hausstette serving local customers with fuel products, operating 365 days a year.
• Bio-LNG (Bio Liquefied Natural Gas) Bio-LNG production from agricultural residues such as manure and slurry. Operated at Germany's first compact Bio-LNG plant in Darchau, producing renewable fuel for trucks, buses, tractors, and ships. Long-term supply contract with Q1 Energie AG for the 'Green Line Liquid' project.
• Ruhe Biogas Service GmbH Biogas plant maintenance and optimization services including combined heat and power (BHKW) servicing. Provides complete service for biogas plant operators to ensure reliable, professional technical support across all locations.
• Blühpatenschaft (Bloom Meadow Sponsorship) Biodiversity sponsorship program (RuheWiesen) enabling companies and individuals to sponsor flower meadows at company locations in Lüsche, Darchau, Vehlow, and Parmen. Available as 1-year or 5-year sponsorships starting at 1 Euro/m²/year, supporting native insects and wildlife habitats.

Quantifiable outcome

• Electricity for 25,700 three-person households annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Rehkitzrettung Elbtalauen Darchau e.V.minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Local wildlife rescue association providing drone surveillance services to check fields for fawns before grass harvesting operations at Darchau location.
• Q1 Energie AGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 September 2021Long-term supply contract for Bio-LNG project 'Green Line Liquid'. Q1 Energie AG, an energy and fuel station company, committed to purchasing Bio-LNG fuel produced by Ruhe for green transportation fuel distribution.
• agriportanceminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2021Young company that facilitated the contract signing between Ruhe Agrar and Q1 Energie AG for the Bio-LNG project.
• Volksbank Vechta eGminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2021Banking partner sponsoring a 5-year bloom meadow sponsorship (1,000 m²) plus an insect hotel in Lüsche, supporting biodiversity and environmental initiatives.
• Ministry for Rural Development, Environment and Agriculture of the State of BrandenburgminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Government partnership for tree planting and hedgerow establishment projects. Co-funding agricultural investment programs (Agrarinvestitionsförderungsprogramm) for stall renovations.
• Ökobetrieb Parmen GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Local organic farming partner operating in the Parmen region, part of the regional partner network.
• Ländliche Arbeitsförderung Prenzlau e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership for establishing new habitats - planting trees and creating 600m hedgerows between villages as part of biodiversity and environmental conservation projects.
• RBS GmbH (Ruhe Biogas Service)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2010Internal service company handling maintenance and optimization of biogas plants and CHP units. Ensures reliable, professional technical support across all locations.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Agrivert: UK operator of anaerobic digestion and organic-waste-to-energy facilities with an agricultural focus; comparable model in a different geography.
• Nature Energy: Danish biogas/RNG producer processing manure and organic waste into green gas; same business model but focused on the Nordic market.
• Future Biogas: UK operator of anaerobic digestion plants producing biomethane from energy crops and agricultural feedstock; same core activity in a different territory.
• Gasum: Nordic energy company producing and distributing biogas and Bio-LNG for transport; comparable RNG/Bio-LNG offering serving a different geography.

Broad incumbents

• BayWa: Large German agricultural and energy group with farming inputs and renewable energy activities; broad overlap with Ruhe's agriculture-plus-energy footprint but far wider portfolio.

Direct peers

• EnviTec Biogas: German biogas plant builder and operator producing electricity, biomethane, and Bio-LNG from agricultural feedstocks — directly comparable in core biogas/RNG operations and geography.
• VERBIO: German producer of biofuels, biomethane, and Bio-LNG from agricultural residues including straw and manure, directly overlapping with Ruhe's Bio-LNG transport-fuel ambitions.
• WELTEC BIOPOWER: German company building and operating biogas and biomethane plants using agricultural residues and manure, mirroring Ruhe's plant operations and feedstock model.

Others

• 2G Energy: German manufacturer of combined heat and power (CHP/BHKW) units used in biogas plants; an enabling technology supplier to operators like Ruhe rather than a direct competitor.

Emerging players

• Landwärme: German biomethane trader and aggregator connecting biogas producers to markets; intersects with Ruhe on renewable gas commercialization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ruhe-agrar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ruhe-agrar-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ruhe Agrar