Sweden's largest biogas plant was inaugurated in Linköping on Monday, set to produce 15,000 tons of biogas annually. The facility employs new technology to capture 20,000 tons of carbon dioxide each year. The climate and environment minister highlighted the initiative as turning problems into resources.
The facility in Linköping, operated by Tekniska verken, was inaugurated on Monday and is described as Sweden's largest biogas plant. It is expected to produce around 15,000 tons of biogas each year, a volume equivalent to 20 million liters of diesel. This supports the transition to fossil-free transport, an area where demand exceeds supply.
A unique feature is the new technology for capturing, purifying, and food-certifying the carbon dioxide produced during biogas manufacturing. Each year, 20,000 tons of carbon dioxide can be handled this way, rather than released into the atmosphere. The purified carbon dioxide can be used as carbonation in soft drinks or as a propellant in food production.
"The interest in biogas is greater than what we can actually produce, especially to switch to fossil-free transport, so we need to increase production," says Anna Lövsén, unit manager for biogas at Tekniska verken.
"Carbon dioxide is a product we want to utilize, and there are several applications for it," she adds.
Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari (L) attended the inauguration and emphasized the importance of carbon capture and utilization (CCU). "I'm mainly here because CCU is happening, using the carbon dioxide from this facility. Just as our food waste is used in biofuels, we will see carbon dioxide used in industries," she said.
The project is financed one-third by the state through Klimatklivet. The minister noted challenges in the transport sector, particularly for trucks transitioning slowly, and highlighted the role of biofuels. The facility marks a significant step in Sweden's environmental efforts.