Vesilahti biogas plant project is the first to liquefy biogenic carbon dioxide: "The time wasn't ripe for this five years ago"

A biogas plant is currently being built in Vesilahti, which will be Finland's first biogas plant utilizing biogenic carbon dioxide capture and liquefaction.

Vesilahti-Lempäälän Biopower Oy's biogas plant will be completed in the summer of 2026. The supply of biomethane to Lempäälän Lämpö Oy's local distribution network will begin in the fall of 2026.

The plant will be implemented by Doranova's development With Solidferm technologyIt enables the processing of even higher solids concentrations in wet digestion reactors.

The plant will have two 4,250 cubic meter digestion reactors and a spacious 600 square meter process hall. The feed technology can be placed indoors. Doranova Oy is responsible for the overall contract, which will also handle the actual operation of the plant.

Agricultural biomass as feedstock

Initially, the goal was to process packaged biowaste. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a collapse in the volume of these fractions throughout Finland. The project remained dormant for a few years.

“Five years ago, the time was not yet ripe for such an entity,” says Doranova’s CEO. Antti Myllärinen.

Over the years, the project's focus has shifted to agricultural biomass flows. The green transition has since increased the value of biogas and biomethane.

There were also changes in the ownership structure. Doranova was the main owner of Vesilahti–Lempäälän Biopower Oy for a long time, until in 2023 the main ownership was transferred to Sontek Oy.

Swiss technology captures biogenic carbon dioxide

Later, the Swiss company Ophi AG also joined. It is responsible for the plant's gas processing technology and processes biogas into biomethane. At the same time, the plant captures biogenic carbon dioxide, which is liquefied and directed to industry.

“CEO of Lempäälän Lämmö” Toni Valley has been an invaluable support in the project. The company is responsible for expanding the gas distribution network to the future biogas plant, which is approximately six kilometers away. They have also helped in the design of energy solutions for the overall process,” Myllärinen explains.

According to Myllärinen, the market for biogenic carbon dioxide is still developing.

"We want to be pioneers in this too. Some of the CO₂ production will be sold, and some will be used in Doranova's other operations," Myllärinen says.

The biogas plant project has been granted support from both the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment and the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, the latter of which emphasizes the development of the gas processing chain.

Text: Antti Myllärinen and Uusiouutisten editorial team

Photo: Doranova. When completed, the Vesilahti biogas plant will produce biomethane for Lempäälän Lämpö Oy's local distribution network and will capture and liquefy carbon dioxide.