Finland-headed food industry group Apetit Oyj is one step closer in its plan to build a 4.5 MW biomass-fired heat plant at the Avena Kantvik Oy rapeseed oil milling plant in Kirkkonummi following a "favourable decision" from the Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.
In June 2018, the Group revealed that it was considering to invest around EUR 3.7 million in a multi-fuel biomass plant pending the outcome of environmental permit and grant applications.
The company says that it has now received a “favourable decision” from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment regarding investment grants for renewable energy projects. The grant will cover 10 percent of the total cost of the project to a maximum of EUR 350 000
We are glad to be able to invest in the development of our strategic businesses and the use of renewable energy. The new bioenergy plant will increase energy self-sufficiency of the plant and use of production side streams as an energy source, said Juha Vanhainen, CEO, Apetit.
The bioenergy plant will replace the current energy solution that uses non-renewable fuels and significantly reduce the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of the entire Group. Forest chips, recycled wood, and other fibre waste from forests and fields in the area will be the primary fuels along with rapeseed screenings, vegetable oil sludge and, when possible, the bentonite clay used in the rapeseed oil bleaching process.
The project now hinges on receiving an environmental permit.
