WELTEC BIOPOWER Builds Biogas Plant in Finland

24 March 2021 | Int. Livestockhousing Guide |

Finland Relies on Sustainable Nutrient Recycling for Water Protection

WELTEC BIOPOWER recently commissioned a biogas plant near Turku in southwestern Finland. This region is characterised by livestock farms and therefore the 250-kW plant runs entirely on liquid manure. The energy plant belongs to a group of three pig farmers. In this project, the German plant builder cooperates with its long-standing Finnish partner Doranova.

The orientation of environmental policy in the Scandinavian state is increasingly based on sustainable nutrient recycling. Agriculture in particular plays a strategically important role in regions with intensive animal husbandry. While in other parts of the world manure and slurry are seen as waste, the Fins rely on the advantages of the so-called black gold. Fertilisation with this organic substance improves the structure of the soil and increases the carbon storage in the ground. Moreover, an upstream biogas process delivers climate-neutral energy and ensures even better plant availability of the fertiliser.Both the farm structure and the location of the Finnish pig farmers present an ideal setting for the new anaerobic digestion project. Currently, three fattening houses are being built in addition to the existing piglet production sites. In this way, some 40,000 t of pig manure are available as input material for the stainless-steel digester, which has a capacity of 4,903 m³. Other substrates will not be used. The heat generated by the 250-kW CHP unit is used to preheat the liquid manure, which is first buffered in an upstream slurry pit. To minimise the loss of heat in the harsh Finnish winter, WELTEC equipped the digester cladding with an extra-thick insulation layer. This will result in a more efficient digestion process.

The fully automated biogas plant operation culminates in the separation of the digestate. By compressing the nutrients, the transportability is increased and this helps to balance any regional nutrient surpluses and reduce the entry of these nutrients in the Baltic Sea and other bodies of water. „Back in 2013, we received the ‚Baltic Manure Handling Award‘ in Helsinki in recognition of our biogas technology to reduce the accumulation of nutrients close to waters“, reports Hajo Schierhold, Head of Sales at WELTEC, and adds: „We emphasise individual engineering and a high technical standard. This is something our customers in 25 countries greatly appreciate.

“With the help of biogas technologies of experienced manufacturers like WELTEC BIOPOWER, Finland is sure to reach its recycling target. By 2025, 50 percent of the approximately 17.3 million tons of animal dung are to be processed. Apart from the energy production, this will cover more than three quarters of the phosphorus required for arable farming. „Such efficient nutrient recycling effectively prevents the eutrophication of the water system and eliminates the need for elaborately produced artificial fertiliser“, says Mikko Saalasti, Head of the Biogas department of Doranova. According to Saalasti, the use of nutrients from the black gold thus represents an essential step towards the improvement of all water systems in the country. In addition to water protection, the production of green power will also ensure climate protection.

A video about the construction process of the plant can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKpk6arA7rE

You can find this item in our free magazine.

Related items

Paneltim Buy Back Program for Agriculture ( With video ! )

At Paneltim, we’re passionate about building better and recycling better. Since the production of our first panels and slats, we have been convinced that the raw materials in ou...
28 March 2024

Dutch Lily Days: unique meeting place for breeders, growers and trade companies

From Tuesday to Friday, 4 to 7 June 2024, the annual Dutch Lily Days are being held. This is a unique meeting place for breeders, growers and trade companies. It’s the perfect...
21 March 2024

User Story of Pats Drones – The Westland

Cooperation Royal Brinkman, PATS and Agrobío:Biological caterpillar control at Kwekerij het Westland Nursery the Westland will start a large-scale field trial for biolo...
14 March 2024

Contact information

U Gaat Bouwen
Langpoort 2
6001 CL Weert, NL
+31 495 545 060
info@ugaatbouwen.nl
www.ugaatbouwen.com