Valio Dairy Farms Help Supply Feedstock for Finland’s New Liquefied Biogas Facility

Valio Dairy Farms Help Supply Feedstock for Finland’s New Liquefied Biogas Facility

(IN BRIEF) Valio’s participation in the Suomen Lantakaasu biogas ecosystem has helped support the launch of Finland’s first industrial-scale liquefied biogas production plant in Nurmo, developed by Nurmon Bioenergia Oy and majority-owned by Suomen Lantakaasu Oy, a joint venture between St1 Biokraft and Valio, with Atria Finland Ltd as a minority shareholder. The plant processes manure from local farms and other agricultural and food industry by-products into renewable transport fuel and recycled biofertilisers, with an annual capacity of around 100 gigawatt-hours, equivalent to approximately 10 million litres of diesel. More than 30,000 tonnes of manure have already been received, raw biogas production is underway and liquefaction is scheduled to begin later this autumn. The project supports Finland’s green transition, strengthens nutrient recycling, creates new opportunities for agriculture and food production, and forms part of Suomen Lantakaasu’s plan to build a nationwide biogas ecosystem capable of producing one terawatt-hour of domestic renewable energy annually.

(PRESS RELEASE) HELSINKI, 19-Aug-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Valio and St1 Biokraft’s joint venture, Suomen Lantakaasu Oy, has inaugurated Finland’s first industrial-scale production facility for liquefied biogas in Nurmo.

The plant represents one of the most significant recent industrial investments supporting the green transition in South Ostrobothnia and marks the establishment of a new biogas production ecosystem in one of Finland’s key food-producing regions.

At the Nurmo facility, manure from local farms, together with other agricultural and food industry by-products, is processed into renewable transport fuel and biofertilisers that return valuable nutrients to agricultural use.

The plant has an annual production capacity of approximately 100 gigawatt-hours of liquefied biogas, equivalent to around 10 million litres of diesel.

Thanks to its high energy density, liquefied biogas is particularly well suited to heavy-duty transport and provides a fossil-free alternative to diesel.

The Nurmo plant is a major milestone in Suomen Lantakaasu’s broader growth plan.

The company aims to build a nationwide biogas ecosystem and, in the future, produce a total of one terawatt-hour of domestic renewable energy annually.

The reception of manure from local farms has started successfully, with more than 30,000 tonnes received to date.

The plant is currently producing raw biogas, with liquefaction scheduled to begin later this autumn.

Biogas creates new opportunities for agriculture and energy

Leena Helminen, CEO of Suomen Lantakaasu Oy, said the completion of the Nurmo biogas plant is a significant milestone for the company.

She said the project brings together food and energy production in a way that strengthens both security of supply and domestic renewable energy production.

Helminen added that the plant is creating new business opportunities around Finnish food production, improving agricultural profitability and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

Tuomas Salusjärvi, Executive Vice President, Expansion Businesses and Renewal at Valio, said the company is proud of the new ecosystem created in Nurmo through close cooperation between local farms, the food industry and energy sector operators.

He said the project demonstrates how collaboration with farms can create solutions that strengthen the competitiveness of Finnish food production, improve nutrient recycling and generate renewable energy.

Salusjärvi added that it is especially important for Valio that manure from Valio dairy farms is turned into a valuable resource through biogas production.

Through the model, farms gain access to recycled fertilisers that are easier for crops to utilise, while also reducing emissions and achieving significant cost savings.

Miika Johansson, CEO of St1 Biokraft, said Finland has strong potential to build a more self-sufficient renewable energy system, reduce import dependence and provide competitive alternatives to fossil fuels.

He said the Nurmo plant contributes to all three goals by producing liquefied biogas at industrial scale from local feedstocks.

For St1 Biokraft, Johansson added, the facility is also an important step in scaling the Nordic biogas market by connecting production with growing demand from transport, maritime and industrial customers.

Tauno Perälä, Executive Vice President, Industrial Operations at Atria Finland, said the Nurmo biogas plant provides concrete support for Atria’s sustainability targets and its efforts to reduce emissions from food production.

He said the plant enables the efficient use of food industry by-products and improves nutrient recycling.

Perälä added that the project strengthens the vitality of the South Ostrobothnia region and creates new opportunities for cooperation between agriculture, the food industry, energy production and transport.

Ownership and public support

The new biogas plant in Nurmo has been developed by Nurmon Bioenergia Oy, which is majority-owned by Suomen Lantakaasu Oy.

Atria Finland Ltd is a minority shareholder in Nurmon Bioenergia Oy.

Suomen Lantakaasu is a joint venture between St1 Biokraft and Valio, established to accelerate the transition toward low-emission transport and more efficient nutrient recycling.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has granted EUR 9.4 million in energy investment aid to the Nurmo biogas plant project.

The Ministry of the Environment has also provided EUR 101,800 in support for the biofertiliser loading tank investment at the plant.

Through the Nurmo facility, Suomen Lantakaasu, Valio, St1 Biokraft, Atria Finland and local farms are creating a circular model that converts agricultural and food industry side streams into renewable energy and recycled fertilisers for Finnish agriculture.

Media Contact:

Valio Mediadesk
+358 10 381 2118
mediadesk@valio.fi

SOURCE: Valio