Gasum purchases biogas facility in Denmark to boost renewable gas output

Finland-based Gasum has announced the acquisition of all shares in Hærup Biogas ApS, a company that owns and operates a biogas plant in northern Denmark. The plant primarily uses manure as feedstock, producing around 40 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of biogas annually, which is utilized for power and heat production at the plant and for the local district heating company, Klejtrup Varmeværk. This acquisition marks a significant step in Gasum’s strategic objective to enhance its biogas production capabilities and expand its footprint in Denmark, a key European biogas market.

Denmark is considered an attractive location for biogas production due to its strong agricultural sector. According to Gasum’s CEO, Mika Wiljanen, the country offers abundant manure feedstock, high fertilizer demand, and short transport distances, making it a favorable environment for biogas operations. The acquisition provides Gasum with valuable insights into the Danish biogas market, which is the fourth-largest producer of biogas in Europe, with over 8,000 GWh produced annually.

As part of its investment strategy, Gasum plans to enhance the capacity of the acquired plant by installing a gas upgrading unit and connecting it to the gas grid. These upgrades are aimed at fully utilizing the existing production capacity and reinforcing the company’s commitment to increasing its biogas offering.

This acquisition is a key component of Gasum’s broader strategy to reach a target of 7 terawatt-hours (TWh) of renewable gas annually by 2027, a goal that would contribute to a reduction of approximately 1.8 million tons of CO2 emissions per year. To achieve this target, Gasum is also developing five large-scale biogas plants in Sweden, with the first set to begin production in early 2025.

Biogas offers a significant environmental benefit, as its lifecycle emissions are on average 90% lower than those of traditional fossil fuels, such as diesel. When produced from manure, the emissions can even be negative. This makes biogas a critical component of Gasum’s strategy to promote sustainable energy solutions in the Nordic region.