Better energy solutions – naturally

Natural gas is a clean and efficient fuel both for large companies and for small and medium-sized enterprises. To ensure that Finnish businesses can enjoy the pure benefits of natural gas, Gasum brings the diverse advantages of natural gas within the reach of the entire corporate world. As well as being environmentally friendly, natural gas is economical and easy to use. The superior advantages of natural gas can be enjoyed, for example, by industrial companies, various properties, builders and restaurants as well as energy and distribution companies. Moreover, the use of natural gas in transport is also growing.

When you need an expert, contact Gasum’s professionals. We offer corporate customers our wide-ranging expertise in natural gas, from quality gas appliances to efficient, comprehensive solutions.

Natural gas satisfies around 11 per cent of Finland's total energy requirement. Combined heat and power generation (CHP) in industry and municipal power plants accounts for 70 per cent of the gas consumed. Other major applications are condensation electricity and district heating production and various industrial processes. In the Helsinki area, there are around 300 restaurants fitted with natural gas cookers.

Finland is at the leading edge of CHP in both district heating and industry alike, and Finland’s advanced district heating network has further enhanced CHP’s potential. CHP accounts for 32 per cent of Finland’s electricity production, while natural gas accounts for around a third of the fuel used in CHP. Other major applications are condensation electricity, district heating production and various industrial processes.

Despite the small volumes consumed, natural gas has a major role in other applications. Industry uses it for a variety of heating and drying processes, including the production of hydrogen as a raw material. In the food industry, natural gas is used to roast coffee and to bake rye bread and hamburger buns, while not forgetting mämmi, a Finnish rye malt dish eaten at Easter.

Natural gas is used in the manufacture of liquid packaging boards such as milk cartons. It is also used in the production of Finnish art glass and ceramics and in the textile industry. For market gardeners, natural gas provides a reliable source of heat, electricity and plant nourishment in the form of carbon dioxide.

Gasum is working to increase the use of natural gas as a transport fuel. The taxation of natural gas vehicles is neutral, as natural gaspowered passenger cars and delivery vans are taxed in the same way as the corresponding petrol vehicles. The engine capacity tax for heavy vehicles is the same as for dieselpowered vehicles. Special taxes earlier in force have been abolished, which makes the use of natural gas a much more attractive option. Gasum seeks to price natural gas as a transport fuel at around 60% of the price of conventional liquid transport fuels.

In recent years Gasum has invested heavily in public natural gas filling stations. Currently there are five filling stations in Finland: two in Helsinki and one each, in Tampere, Kouvola and Kotka. There is also a refuelling station in Hamina run by ST1 and Hamina Energia. The a plan is to increase the number of stations to 30 by the year 2010.