Finnish government supports growth of biomethane as vehicle fuel
Finland’s Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Jari Leppä has opened Gasum’s new biogas plant, located in Munkkaa, Lohja. The new facility will process around 60,000 tons of biodegradable waste from the Helsinki region each year to produce 40 GWh of biomethane to be used as transport fuel. The amount is equivalent to the annual consumption of 4,000 cars. Use of biogas as a vehicle fuel can help to reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 90%.
“There is a constantly growing demand for biogas, which is currently by far the best way for heavy-duty transport to reduce emissions. Growing demand for biogas also means a need for continuously more biogas feedstock, or organic waste. The Lohja plant offers companies in the Helsinki region a chance to become part of the circular economy and a cleaner future by recycling their biowaste into fully renewable biogas,” said Johan Grön, Vice President, Biogas, Gasum.
The importance of biogas in reducing transport emissions is well recognized in Finland. The National Roadmap for fossil-free transport lists a number of measures that can be used to support natural gas transport in the coming years. In addition, a national biogas program for Finland has been included in the Government Program. Implementation of this program seeks to make more efficient use of biogas production potential going forward.
”It’s a pleasure to open the Lohja biogas plant. The promotion of biogas in particular supports the transition from fossil fuels to renewables. Promoting the circular economy and sustainability are at the core of the Government Program,” explained Minister Leppä.
Gasum now has a total of 17 biogas plants in Finland and Sweden and is one of the largest biogas producers in the Nordic countries.
