Finland’s leading biogas plant group changes ownership

In Finland, Taaleri and Gasum have completed an arrangement to transfer the ownership of the Biotehdas group to Gasum.

The nationwide Biotehdas group, owned by Taaleritehdas Biotehdas I Private Equity Fund, is the market leader in the biogas sector in Finland.

It comprises operational biogas plants in Huittinen, Kuopio, Oulu, and Honkajoki, and a plant to be completed in summer 2016 in Riihimäki.

The biogas technology company Watrec is not part of the transaction.

“With our customers, we have built using Finnish capital a nationwide chain of biogas plants, which improve Finland’s waste management and its environment. In addition, we have created new jobs and profit for investors,” said Tero Luoma, investment director of Taaleri Private Equity Funds.

Taaleri founded the Biotehdas Private Equity Fund – which now has approximately 200 Finnish investors – in 2012 with the purpose of building Finland’s first nationwide network of biogas plants.

Annually, the Biotehdas group processes approximately 275,000 tonnes of biodegradable waste, such as biowaste from households and industry as well as sludge from wastewater treatment plants.

The five plants produce a total of 170,000MWh of renewable biogas energy per year and additionally recycle nutrients contained in the waste.

The biogas plants recycle approximately 500 tonnes of phosphorus and 1,000 tonnes of nitrogen per year.