Biogas power station receives climate prize

The biogas power station at the Ämmässuo waste processing centre in Espoo has been recognized with the Climate Act of the Year prize by Finnish Energy Industries (Energiateollisuus ry), an industry organization representing energy producers and tasked to promote sustainable energy solutions.

The prize was now conferred for the first time. The prize winner was selected by the organization’s expert body Sustainable Development Forum. The Ämmässuo power station belongs to and is operated by HSY Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority.

The Sustainable Development Forum says, “A power station utilizing gases from biowaste decomposing processes is a model example of holistic utilization of energy contents and decentralized energy production. The project reduces emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in an economically sustainable and energy-efficient manner.” Methane contained in the biogas is a power greenhouse gas. 

The biogas power station can utilize all biogas retrieved at the landfills of Ämmässuo, turning it into electricity and district heat for local use. Owing to biogas retrieval, the environmental detriment of the landfills has been nearly eliminated.

Ämmässuo is the largest waste processing centre in the Nordic countries. It receives and processes waste from the Helsinki metropolitan area.