Finnish sugar company Sucros Oy, part of Germany-headed Nordzucker AG, has decided to switch from using heavy fuel oil (HFO) and coal to using liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied renewable natural gas (bioLBG) in its existing three boilers to significantly reduce emissions of its sugar beet processing plant in Säkylä.
Sucros Oy‘s facility in Säkylä is the only sugar beet processing plant in Finland. Both Sucros Oy and its subsidiary Suomen Sokeri Oy are part of the Nordzucker Group, which is the second-largest sugar company in Europe.
Switching to LNG from oil and coal means complete elimination of sulphur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter (PM), and a 38 percent reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
The transition to more environmentally friendly energy sources plays an important part in Nordzucker’s commitment to reducing CO2 emissions and thus the climate impact of sugar production. The Nordzucker Group has the ambitious GoGreen program, which includes significant investments in green technology solutions in the future. In addition, expenditures for support and replacement measures in Europe and Australia are planned, said Jussi Urponen, Head of Sucros Säkylä Site.
Circular agreement
The liquefied gases will be supplied by compatriot gas and energy provider Gasum Oy which already receives wastewater sludge and biosludge from Suomen Sokeri for use as raw materials in Gasum’s biogas plants in Turku, Lohja, and Huittinen.
The LNG and bioLBG (aka LBG) supply agreement between Gasum and Sucros will commence during the autumn of 2022, when the terminal, which includes LNG storage tanks, a vaporizer, and industrial automation, is scheduled to start commercial operation.
Gasum will procure and construct the terminal and LNG will be delivered by trailer from Gasum’s LNG terminal in Pori.
According to Gasum, using biomethane (aka renewable natural gas – RNG) can help to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 90 percent compared with fossil fuels. LNG can also be blended with bioLNG.
We are of course delighted to help Sucros in reducing their emissions with a turnkey solution of this kind. Switching from coal to gas will simply bring them many benefits in a cost-effective and secure way. Security of supply is increasingly important for our customers and as Gasum will be delivering the liquefied gas to the Säkylä factory from our terminal in nearby Pori. This will provide additional security of supply, said Tommy Mattila, VP, Industry, at Gasum.
