In Finland, Suomen Lantakaasu Oy, a joint venture owned by Finnish dairy major Valio Oy and Nordic biomethane company St1 Biokraft Oy, has begun operations of the country's first industrial-scale liquefied biomethane (bioLNG) production facility in Nurmo, South Ostrobothnia.
Hailed as one of the most significant industrial investments supporting the green transition in South Ostrobothnia in recent years, the commissioning of the Nurmo plant marks the establishment of a new biogas production ecosystem in one of Finland’s key food-producing regions.
At the Nurmo plant, manure from local farms, along with other agricultural and food industry by-products, is processed into renewable fuel for transport and biofertilisers that recycle valuable nutrients.
The plant has an annual production capacity of approximately 100 GWh of liquefied biomethane (bioLNG), equivalent to around 10 million litres of diesel.
The completion of the Nurmo biogas plant marks a significant milestone for Suomen Lantakaasu. The project brings together food and energy production in a way that strengthens both security of supply and domestic renewable energy production. At the same time, we are creating new business opportunities around Finnish food production, improving the profitability of agriculture and reducing dependence on fossil fuels, said Leena Helminen, CEO of Suomen Lantakaasu.
Nationwide biogas ecosystem
The Nurmo facility marks an important milestone in Suomen Lantakaasu’s broader growth plan. The company aims to build a nationwide biogas ecosystem and produce one TWh of domestic renewable energy annually.
Thanks to its high energy density, bioLNG is particularly well suited to heavy-duty transport and provides a fossil-free alternative to diesel.
Finland has strong potential to build a more self-sufficient renewable energy system, reduce import dependence and provide competitive alternatives to fossil fuels. By producing liquefied biogas at industrial scale from local feedstocks, the Nurmo plant contributes to all three. For St1 Biokraft, it is also an important step in scaling the Nordic biogas market by connecting production with growing demand from transport, maritime and industry, said Miika Johansson, CEO of St1 Biokraft.
New opportunities for agriculture and energy
Manure deliveries from local farms have started, with more than 30,000 tonnes received to date.
The plant is currently producing raw biogas, and the next phase, with biogas upgrading and liquefaction, is scheduled to start later this autumn.
We are proud that a new ecosystem has emerged in Nurmo, built on close collaboration between local farms, the food industry and energy sector operators. The project demonstrates how working together with farms can create solutions that strengthen the competitiveness of Finnish food production, improve nutrient recycling and generate renewable energy. It is particularly important to us that biogas production turns manure from Valio dairy farms into a valuable resource. By participating in biogas production, farms gain access to recycled fertilisers that are easier for crops to utilise, while also reducing emissions and achieving significant cost savings, said Tuomas Salusjärvi, EVP Expansion Businesses and Renewal at Valio.
Nurmo Bioenergia Oy developed the plant, a special purpose company majority-owned by Suomen Lantakaasu, with Atria Finland Ltd as a minority shareholder.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has granted EUR 9.4 million in energy investment aid to the Nurmo biogas plant project, and the Ministry of the Environment has provided EUR 101,800 in support for the biofertilizer loading tank investment at the Nurmo biogas plant.
The Nurmo biogas plant provides concrete support for Atria’s sustainability targets and our efforts to reduce emissions from food production. The plant enables the efficient use of food industry by-products and improves nutrient recycling. At the same time, the project strengthens the vitality of the entire South Ostrobothnia region and creates new opportunities for collaboration between agriculture, the food industry, energy production, and transport, said Tauno Perälä, EVP of Industrial Operations, Atria Finland.
