Finland's First Industrial-Scale Biogas Plant

Suomen Lantakaasu Oy and Atria Finland Ltd are set to make history with the construction of Finland’s inaugural industrial-scale liquefied biogas production facility. The companies have committed over EUR 60 million to develop Nurmon Bioenergia’s biogas plant in Nurmo, aiming to establish a 100-GWh renewable biofuel production site. Groundbreaking for the plant is set to start immediately, with an expected completion date in 2026.

Strategically located near Atria’s existing production facility in Nurmo, the biogas plant will utilise manure from South Ostrobothnia farms, alongside agricultural and food industry byproducts, to generate renewable energy and biofertilisers. Upon completion, the plant is projected to produce approximately 100 GWh of sustainably sourced liquefied biogas. The project has already secured environmental and construction permits and received investment aid from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. Additionally, an application for EU Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) funding has been submitted, which could expand the plant’s capacity to handle a broader array of byproducts and produce around 125 GWh of liquefied biogas annually if approved.

Leena Helminen, Director of Sustainable Business Development at Valio, emphasises the significance of the project: “The Nurmo biogas plant marks the beginning of Suomen Lantakaasu’s national network for biogas production, targeting a 1-terawatt-hour capacity. We are excited to advance this project, which we acquired earlier this year, with the crucial support of investment aid from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.”

Helminen further highlights the broader impact of the project: “The Nurmo biogas plant exemplifies the fruitful collaboration between the food and energy industries towards a more sustainable system. It will make use of agricultural and food industry byproducts, enhance domestic fertiliser self-sufficiency, reduce nutrient runoff into water bodies, and lower emissions across both sectors.”

The completion of the Nurmo plant will also bolster the availability of renewable fuel for heavy transport. St1 has begun constructing its liquefied biogas (LBG) refueling network, recently opening two stations in Mäntsälä and Iittala. Matti Oksanen, Director of Gas Business at St1, outlines the expansion plans: “We are set to open more LBG stations this year, with a goal of establishing a nationwide network by 2030. We are also expanding into Sweden and Norway. A robust refueling infrastructure is essential for encouraging investment in low-emission transport fleets. It is equally important that legislation supports biogas production with stable incentives.”

Tauno Perälä, Senior Vice President of Industrial Operations at Atria Finland, points out the local benefits: “The Nurmo biogas plant will open new opportunities for regional farms, enhancing their profitability and advancing Atria’s goal of carbon neutrality.”

Suomen Lantakaasu Oy, a joint venture between food company Valio and Nordic biogas firm 1Vision Biogas AB (as of September 2, 2024), is progressing with its central biogas plant project in Kiuruvesi and three satellite plants in Upper Savo and North Karelia. The company is also exploring additional sites in Kruunupyy-Pedersöre and Nivala-Sievi, with a goal of achieving a 1-terawatt-hour liquefied biogas network by 2030.