In the second half of 2023, the expanded plant in Gladö Kvarn on Södertörn just south of Stockholm for the production of liquefied biogas is expected to be completed. The plant will produce 220 GWh of Bio-LNG per year, making it the largest of its kind in northern Europe. The former largest plant is Norwegian Skogn, which is also owned by Scandinavian Biogas. By comparison, 220 GWh corresponds to an energy volume of 22 million liters of diesel.

Scandinavian Biogas will invest 300 million SEK in the plant, which will liquefy both the biogas from Gladö Kvarn but also the biogas from the production plant in Henriksdal in Stockholm. The latter reaches Gladö Kvarn via an expanded gas network to be converted into liquid form. The advantage of making the gas liquid is that it then only uses one sixth as much tank volume compared to compressed gas and thus logistics and use become significantly more cost-effective, which makes it possible to sell the product throughout Europe.

In the project, Scandinavian Biogas collaborates with Gasnätet Stockholm regarding gas infrastructure and with Stockholm Water and Waste at Henriksdal in Stockholm. The equipment for liquefying the biogas will be supplied by Air Liquide. The plant is built with proven technology but is the first to be delivered in this size.

The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency’s program Klimatklivet has granted investment support of SEK 135 million to the project since this provides a large reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by replacing fossil fuels. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to support the project is based on the requirement that the invested funds must provide the greatest possible emission reduction per invested money.

“Demand for Bio-LNG is pointing strongly upwards. Bio-LNG is increasingly used in heavy transport, but we believe that in the future there will also be a market in shipping and industry, and even in the production of fossil-free steel, biogas is expected to play an important role. In addition, the supply of inputs to produce biogas is increasing. Therefore, together with our partners, we have decided to invest in this expansion, which makes the facility at Gladö Kvarn the largest in northern Europe”, says Matti Vikkula, CEO of Scandinavian Biogas.

“Our ambition is for the gas network in Stockholm to grow as the city grows. On the one hand, access to food waste increases as Stockholmers become more numerous, and on the other hand, the need for sustainable energy sources becomes increasingly important in line with population growth”, says Cecilia Hedqvist, CEO of Gasnätet Stockholm.