Wärtsilä, Vantaa Energy join forces for producing synthetic biogas in Finland

Finnish firms Wärtsilä and Vantaa Energy have agreed to carry out a joint concept feasibility study for a power-to-gas facility at the latter’s waste-to-energy plant in the city of Vantaa in Finland with an aim to produce carbon-neutral synthetic biogas.

The co-development agreement will be valid for 12 months.

According to Wärtsilä, the power-to-gas facility in Vantaa, by using carbon dioxide emissions and electricity generated at the waste-to-energy plant, will produce synthetic biogas.

The joint study aims to confirm the optimal size of the project, the cost of synthetic biogas needed for district heating, and to determine the boundary conditions for the feasibility of the project.

Once feasible, Wärtsilä and Vantaa Energy plan to continue the joint development of the power-to-gas facility towards a commercial-scale pilot project.

As per Wärtsilä, synthetic biogas will replace the use of conventional natural gas in district heating, therefore cutting down the carbon dioxide emissions of Vantaa Energy.

Jukka Toivonen – CEO of Vantaa Energy said: “We need to take fast and determined action in order to stop the climate crisis. In this situation, we energy companies have a significant role to play. We have stepped up the pace, and we will end the use of coal already in 2022.

“We want to be a driver for change in the energy sector. We are actively and with an open mind seeking the best possible methods of producing energy in a smart and sustainable way and at a reasonable price. This project is an important step towards our goals.”

Rendering of synthetic biogas production in a power-to-gas facility at Vantaa Energy’s waste-to-energy -plant in Finland. Photo courtesy of Wärtsilä.

While Wärtsilä will chip in with its expertise in power-to-gas process and technologies, Vantaa Energy will offer its experience and understanding of the district heating business and project-specific needs to the feasibility study.

Matti Rautkivi – Wärtsilä Energy Business Director of Strategy and Business Development said: “Wärtsilä has been actively working on and investing in Power-to-X research since 2018, during which time we have gained a thorough general understanding of the technology. This co-development agreement will allow us to apply the know-how into a real project.

“We are very excited about this opportunity as it will demonstrate the feasibility of synthetic fuels as an integral part of power and heat systems, while developing the overall sector coupling concepts going forward. Both Vantaa Energy and Wärtsilä share a vision of a 100% renewable energy future, and this project is a perfect place to start building that vision into concrete business.”