Media releases and news

Gasum has signed a power purchase agreement or PPA with Umicore to supply them with renewable electricity. The electricity will be delivered to Umicore’s site in Kokkola, Finland. The 10-year contract of wind generated energy starts in 2025 and includes 45 GWh annually.

Umicore, a Belgian company with over 200 years of history, is a global leader in clean mobility materials and recycling. Its Kokkola site produces precursor cathode active materials and refines cobalt used in rechargeable batteries for electric cars.

“The accelerated energy transition towards clean mobility that we are enabling at Umicore, goes beyond the rechargeable battery materials we produce and recycle. As we are taking our company to the next growth level it’s also about the choices we make in the way we produce – and still reach our objective of carbon neutrality in 2035,” said Mathias Miedreich, CEO of Umicore. “Clean energy agreements like the one we signed with Gasum, allow Europe’s largest cobalt refinery and state-of-the-art cathode precursor facility to produce sustainably. Moreover, they reduce Umicore’s scope 2 emissions as we use electricity as the main source of energy throughout our battery materials value chain, and they significantly contribute to securing our own energy supplies, at a cost competitive level, for the next decade.” said Mathias Miedreich, CEO of Umicore.

Umicore aims to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 for its scope 1 emissions, which stem from its on-site operations, and for its scope 2 emissions, which relate to energy purchases.

The agreement continues a longstanding partnership

The PPA supports both Gasum’s and Umicore’s purpose of building a better and cleaner tomorrow in their respective fields. The agreement also extends their prior cooperation as Umicore has been purchasing portfolio management services from Gasum’s Energy Market Services.

“We are proud that Umicore has chosen to partner with us in regards of renewable energy. This is a demonstration of their trust we have earned during our long-term partnership. The PPA enables increasing the production of green energy in Finland and benefiting not only Gasum and Umicore but also the whole environment,” says Tommy Mattila, VP Industry of Gasum.

The wind farm is currently under construction and will be commissioned by late 2023 or early 2024.

Gasum is already a major actor in the wind power segment and the PPA increases its market share further. Besides wind power, Gasum’s energy portfolio includes hydroelectricity, solar power, and bioenergy. The company also offers biogas and natural gas for industry, maritime shipping, and road transport.

Additionally, Gasum’s Energy Market Services include electricity market portfolio management and market reporting services, guarantees of origin for electricity, expert services for emissions trading, and 24/7 control room services for electricity balance risk management.

Biolan, Gasum and Pöytyän Maanparannus joined forces at the beginning of August in the joint venture Kiertoravinne Oy. Kiertoravinne, which focuses on recycled nutrients, was originally established by Biolan in 2021. Its ownership base grew at the beginning of August and the company is now owned by Biolan, its subsidiary Novarbo Oy, Gasum Oy and Pöytyän Maanparannus Oy.

Kiertoravinne Oy continues Gasum’s work with nutrients by developing nutrients, fertilizers, additives and soil conditioners suitable for agricultural and industrial use from biogas plant and industrial side streams. Besides this, Kiertoravinne’s offering includes Arvo fertilizers and Arvo composts, both made by Biolan, for crop farming, and Pöytyän Maanparannus liming material for arable use.

“There are still quite few recycled nutrient companies operating in Finland. Combining the expertise of Gasum, Biolan and Pöytyän Maanparannus allows us to create a package serving agriculture and industry nationwide that is able to meet large-scale demand,” says Ari Suomilammi, Head of Production at Gasum.

During its first year of operations, Kiertoravinne will deliver around 250,000 tonnes of digestate and recycled nutrients a year from Gasum’s biogas plants. This accounts for around half of Gasum’s total production in Finland. In addition, there are plans to transfer all the nutrient production from Gasum’s biogas plants in Finland for the use of Kiertoravinne after a transition period lasting more than a year.

Growing demand for recycled nutrients and fertilizers

Demand for recycled nutrients has shown clear growth over the past few years. This is attributable to their good availability and their price level compared to the other most widely used mineral fertilizers. The war in Ukraine has seriously affected the manufacture and import of mineral fertilizers. Recycled nutrients are also a competitive and eco-friendly alternative to traditional fertilizers.

“Biolan has used recycled raw materials throughout its history and the establishment of Kiertoravinne Oy is a natural continuum of this. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has weakened the availability of crop fertilizers and together with Kiertoravinne Oy’s shareholders, we want to improve security of supply and add to the Finnish circular economy,” says Biolan’s Managing Director Teppo Rantanen.

“Pöytyän Maanparannus Oy’s key approach is to improve the soil health of arable land holistically, taking into account environmental aspects. Kiertoravinne Oy enables development work on new products in a sustainable way, saving the environment. Working with strong, large actors means we have the possibility to reach this goal. Kiertoravinne Oy has been established for the benefit of Finnish agriculture and the environment,” says Pöytyän Maanparannus Oy’s Managing Director Turkka Salmi.

Each of owner companies has a place on Kiertoravinne Oy’s Board of Directors. Kaisa Vuorinen, who earlier worked with recycled nutrients at Gasum, will take up the post as the company’s product manager in October 2022.

The energy company Gasum has successfully performed the initial bunkering of the first LNG fueled cruise vessel to be completed by Chantiers de l’Atlantique, bunker operation that was performed on the 10th of September 2022 in the Port of La Rochelle. The LNG was delivered by Gasum’s LNG bunker vessel Kairos.

In addition to delivering LNG, Gasum has supported Chantiers de l’Atlantique in the technical preparation of the delivery, including obtaining the relevant permits and authorisations. This delivery marks a new milestone in the extension of the Gasum LNG bunkering network and underlines its ambition to grow geographically, offering its expertise to customers wherever such is requested.

Gasum and Chantiers de l’Atlantique share the ambition to improve the environmental performance of the shipping industry by promoting and demonstrating the technical and commercial availability and reliability of alternative fuels, of which LNG is undoubtedly the most mature.

"With the LNG fueled newbuild program undergoing, Chantiers de l’Atlantique has proven its capacity to embrace new technologies and to remain at the forefront ot the shipbuilding industry. Choosing Gasum is a choice of confidence in its unique experience and track record in supporting yards with technical advice and LNG supplies.” said Laurent Castaing, General Manager of Chantiers de l’Atlantique.

“With this delivery to Chantiers de l’Atlantique, Gasum confirms its position as leading partner for shipyards engaged in the construction of LNG fueled vessels, supplying LNG and delivering decisive technical support in the preparation of initial bunkerings. This new partnership underlines also Gasum’s ambition to extend the geographical reach of its reliable and high quality service in west and south-west Europe. In addition to LNG, Gasum has become a regular supplier of Liquefied Biogas (LBG), supporting the ambitious decarbonization agenda of a series of customers”, Grégoire Hartig, Sales Manager, Gasum.

LNG is a way towards a low-carbon future for maritime

Maritime traffic contributes up to 3 % of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions, which contributes directly to global warming. Gasum is leading the way towards a cleaner future for maritime transport by operating as a premium supplier of LNG and bunkering services.

LNG is rapidly becoming more common as a maritime fuel, as switching to it is one of the concrete actions that can be taken towards significantly reducing maritime traffic’s climate impact. As a fuel it is interchangeable with 100 % renewable liquefied biogas (LBG) which means that it can be mixed with and even replaced by LBG.