The aim of the study is to establish the optimal size of the project, the cost of synthetic biogas for district heating. Once feasible, the two companies intend to jointly develop the project on a commercial scale.
Vantaa to exit coal in 2022
Synthetic biogas is ultimately meant to replace the use of natural gas to produce district heating in Vantaa Energy’s cogeneration plants, thereby reducing the utility’s emissions footprint. CEO Jukka Toivonen underlined the utility’s aim to end the use of coal already in 2022.
“We want to be a driver for change in the energy sector. We are actively and with an open mind seeking the best possible methods of producing energy in a smart and sustainable way and at a reasonable price. This project is an important step towards our goals,” he explained.
Wärtsilä has been working on and investing in Power-to-X research since 2018, gaining a general understanding of the technology. “This co-development agreement will allow us to apply the know-how into a real project. It will demonstrate the feasibility of synthetic fuels as an integral part of power and heat systems, while developing the overall sector coupling concepts going forward, said Matti Rautkivi, director, strategy and business development at Wärtsilä Energy.