Carbon smart biogas production and nutrient recycling in Kanta-Häme region

Recently, the biogas industry’s role in increasing national self-sufficiency and supply security, through both renewable energy and recycled fertilizer production, has been emphasized. Finland aims to increase biogas production and develop the processing of recycled nutrient products. Thus, all potential raw materials must be included to increase biogas production. Here, agricultural biomasses have important role in achieving the goal. However, the growth and development of biogas production sector needs to be done sustainably. This requires not only public support, but also strong cooperation and networking between RDI activities and the business community.

In Kanta-Häme region, there are biogas plan operators who focus on large-scale treatment of biowaste and sludge, but there no farm-scale biogas production nor any biogas production from agricultural biomasses and side-streams. Thus, these materials are potential and interesting for actors planning new biogas plant investments within the region. In addition, a gas pipeline goes through the Kanta-Häme region, and there are several actors who urgently need alternative solutions to replace natural gas use. New biogas plant investments in Kanta-Häme region would be a significant leap towards the green transition, increasing the production of renewable energy and recycled fertilizers, as well as realizing carbon sequestration opportunities in the region. The aim of the BioKanta project is to steer and support this regional development in the right direction by applying excellence, the latest research data and supporting the application of new technologies. Together, the project actors, Luke and HAMK, form a strong nationwide research, competence and training centre in the field of biogas technology. In BioKanta project, this know-how and research infrastructure will be made available to companies and other actors in Kanta-Häme region. To support this, the project is also involved in building a regional network for the actors within the biogas and nutrient recycling sector.

To support regional investment decisions, the project examines biogas plant solutions in different scales (farm-scale, multiple farm scale, a large, centralized scale) and with different feedstocks. The assessment of the centralized solutions also aims for logistically optimal solutions. The project provides guidance and research-based support for the investment phase and process start up. These will be prepared together with the regional actors interested or planning new biogas plant investments. Increasing the regional competence within biogas sector promotes not only the readiness to apply new technologies but also the RDI cooperation throughout the sector. The possibilities of biogas production to influence carbon sequestration in soils is a novel research topic. In BioKanta project, experimental research on the integration of biochar and biogas processes will be studied. This is an internationally interesting research topic in which both Luke's and HAMK's international research networks will be utilized. In the future, carbon smart biogas production may also enable the biogas plant operator to take part in the carbon capture market and offer new business opportunities for nutrient processors. All in all, BioKanta project promotes the development of a bio-circular economy and sustainable food chains in Kanta-Häme region.