Wärtsilä Delivers Largest Biogas Plant

Wärtsilä has been awarded the order to supply a biogas liquefaction plant that will produce fuel for public transport vehicles, mainly in Norway. The supply contract was signed in December 2015, and is with Purac Puregas AB, based in Kalmar, Sweden.

The Wärtsilä plant will be installed at the paper mill in Skogn, Norway and will convert the cleaned biogas from fishery waste and residual paper mill slurry into liquid fuel. The liquid will be cooled to minus 160°C and stored in insulated tanks. The system has been specially designed to liquefy small methane-based gas streams. This novel technology is based on readily available, well proven components but features a highly advanced process design and control system. The environmental benefits of delivering renewable liquid biogas fuel are enhanced by the fact that sulphur oxide (SOx) and particle emissions are virtually eliminated, while any released CO2 has zero environmental impact since it is part of the existing circulatory CO2.

"Wärtsilä is very pleased at being contracted to deliver a compact solution featuring proven technology that has been adapted to the needs of the customer. The system offers low operating costs and is energy efficient. Furthermore, the environmental footprint will be minimal. By enabling profitable projects for smaller gas streams, we are aiding the EU's target of having ten percent renewable fuel by the year 2020," says Timo Koponen, Vice President, Wärtsilä Marine Solutions.

"We expect strong demand in a fast growing market for liquefied biogas fuel. Wärtsilä's biogas liquefaction solution represents an important step forward in realising this potential. The fuel can now be produced economically and sustainably, which were key factors in the award of this contract," says Håvard Wollan, Chief Executive Officer of Biokraft A/S.

"The plant at Skogn will be privately operated and, with a capacity of 25 tons of liquid biogas per day, will be the biggest in the Nordic countries. It is a game-changer in the biogas fuel market," says Øystein Ihler, Development Director of Climate and Energy Programme for the City of Oslo.

Having the biogas as cryogenic liquid, rather than as compressed gas makes it a viable fuel for heavy vehicles since sufficient energy can be stored onboard.

Wärtsilä is delivering the system on a fast-track basis and the on-site installation is scheduled to be completed within a 15 month time-frame.