Ground has been broken on a new large-scale biogas and gas upgrading facility in Vara, Sweden, led by Biogas Västra Skaraborg AB (BVS) in partnership with German technology provider EnviTec Biogas. Once complete, the plant is expected to produce up to 70 GWh of biomethane annually, which will be liquefied into bio-LNG for heavy transport.
BVS, a cooperative of local farmers, will supply feedstock including pig and cattle manure as well as other agricultural residues from the region. The facility is designed to handle around 370,000 tonnes of material per year in five separate digesters, with a combined capacity of nearly 32,000 cubic metres.
To meet hygiene requirements, digestate from mixed farms will be treated at temperatures above 52°C before storage. Heat exchangers and industrial heat pumps will be used to improve efficiency by recycling heat within the process, lowering energy consumption and reducing the carbon intensity of the biomethane.
EnviTec’s EnviThan upgrading technology will prepare the gas to 98 per cent methane. Dutch bio-LNG specialist Nordsol will then apply its liquefaction process, integrating its system with the EnviThan unit to produce transport-grade bio-LNG.
The project has received support from Sweden’s Klimatklivet climate investment scheme, which backs initiatives that achieve measurable and cost-effective cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.
Sweden’s biomethane market is currently dominated by compressed gas distributed via local and regional networks, but bio-LNG is gaining ground. The Vara facility is expected to add significant capacity to this emerging sector, linking agricultural residues with low-carbon fuel supply for the transport and industrial markets.
EnviTec Biogas starts work on flagship bio-LNG plant in Sweden
