Mäntsälän Biovoima is a pioneer in the circular economy, transforming organic waste into renewable energy and fertilizers. Established in 2020, this biogas plant is expanding its operations to significantly increase biogas production and reduce environmental impacts. The plant is in Mäntsälä, Helsinki Ring of Industry’s northeastern side.
Innovative Biogas Operations
Mäntsälän Biovoima processes organic waste from municipalities and industries, converting it into biogas through anaerobic digestion. Biogas is an excellent example of the circular economy, as organic waste and by-products are recycled into renewable energy and fertilizers. This process significantly reduces emissions from agriculture, transportation, industry, and waste sectors.
“The raw materials for biogas include separately collected biowaste from industrial by-products, households, and food stores. We use an efficient additional process to mechanically separate plastic from the final product,” explains Jani Hautaluoma, Business Manager at Auris Energia. Auris Energia, Finland’s largest retail and distribution company for gas, has been the majority owner of Mäntsälän Biovoima since 2023.
National support for Biogas Plant Expansion
The expansion plans for Mäntsälän Biovoima are significant. The biogas plant’s production capacity is set to double, allowing for the processing of municipal sludge and farm manure. This expansion will enhance the plant’s efficiency and broaden its raw material base. Biogas production is expected to grow from 17 GWh up to 34 GWh per year, and the expansion will enable biogas to be fed into the national gas grid, improving its distribution and availability.
With the expansion, the plant’s nitrogen recycling will increase by 56 tons and phosphorus recycling by 11.5 tons annually, enabling the cultivation of over 400 hectares of farmland. The project’s investment cost is 8 million euros, with the Finnish Ministry of the Environment providing approximately 3.6 million euros in support. The nutrients from treated sludge will be utilized as fertilizer products. The Ministry of the Environment is supporting a total of eight new nutrient recycling and renewable energy projects with 9.6 million euros.
“These supported projects are excellent examples of how to advance multiple important goals simultaneously. Biogas projects combine the clean transition of transportation and the strengthening of nutrient self-sufficiency, and wastewater treatment is integrated with heat recovery to reduce heating energy consumption,” says Kai Mykkänen, Minister of the Environment and Climate.
Biogas Plant is a Discreet Neighbour
The biogas plant’s operations do not typically cause wastewater, runoff, or odour nuisances. The biowaste reception and processing area is under negative pressure, and the extracted air is directed to odour gas treatment. The plant also produces digestate, which is used as fertilizer and raw material for fertilizer products. Compared to slurry spread on fields, the organic fertilizer has significantly fewer odour nuisances, and modern drag hose spreaders are gentler on the soil.
“Up to 200 cubic meters of fertilizer can be spread on fields per hour. We currently have three trailer units and one drag hose spreader with 2 kilometres of hose,” says Matti Salminen from Uudenmaan Koneurakointi Oy, responsible for Mäntsälän Biovoima’s fertilizer spreading.
Prospects of the Mäntsälän Biovoima Biogas Plant
Mäntsälän Biovoima is committed to continuing its efforts in promoting sustainable development and increasing biogas production. With the expansion, the plant’s role as a producer of renewable energy will be further strengthened, enabling it to meet the growing demand for biogas both in Finland and internationally. The goal is for the expansion to be operational by the end of 2025.
The expansion project is designed and implemented by Watrec Ltd, which also built the original biogas plant. Watrec, along with the local energy company Nivos Oy, is a minority owner of Mäntsälän Biovoima.
Mäntsälän Biovoima
Mäntsälän Biovoima is a full service Biogas plant. The biomethane produced by the plant is transferred to Auris Energia’s gas distribution network. In addition, they deliver fertilizer products to local farmers.
Auris Energy
Auris Energy is a Finnish energy company that offers fuel and energy as a service. The company help customers improve their energy-efficiency with the cleanest and most efficient solutions, flexible and reliable supply of energy, and continuous optimization of energy consumption.
