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19.04.2017
The environmental management expert Eerola -Yhtiöt is the first company in Finland to fuel its vehicles with 100% Finnish and renewable biogas produced from its own waste. The company is using the Gasum waste management service by delivering the fat, oil and grease (FOG) sludge collected by it to biogas production. Eerola-Yhtiöt has switched to biogas in its heavy-duty as well as light vehicle fleet.
Emptying grease traps is one of the fields of operation of Eerola-Yhtiöt. Basic equipment of every restaurant and industrial kitchen, these traps intercept all of the fat, oil and grease (FOG) from kitchen wastewater. FOG emptied from traps used to be unutilized and taken to wastewater treatment plants and landfill sites. Today, however, the energy content of FOG can be recovered at biogas plants.
”We’re proud of our forerunner role in Finland. Running our vehicles on biogas produced from our own waste is a natural way for us to be even more environmentally friendly as a company. The circular economy really is a big deal, and with Gasum everything clicked in place very nicely,” says Pasi Eerola, Managing Director, Eerola-Yhtiöt.
Gasum’s biogas plants receive FOG collected by Eerola-Yhtiöt from grease traps and use it in the production of 100% Finnish and renewable biogas. This biogas is initially used by Eerola-Yhtiöt to fuel three Scania gas trucks and five gas-powered Mercedes-Benz Sprinters sourced from Veho.
”A clear awakening to alternative fuels can now be seen in the Finnish transport sector. It’s particularly great to be involved in the promotion of such a concrete example of circular economy. I find it really sensible to utilize the collected fat, oil and grease as a fuel for the company’s vehicles, although actions like this still represent relatively new thinking in our country. We’re excited to be on board with Eerola-Yhtiöt and contribute our own expertise to this,” says Henna Wickström, Managing Director, Scania Suomi.
”Many companies are focusing a lot more on emission and environmental issues. Many companies are also actively looking for information and experiences about alternatives that can help achieve progress in these issues. It’s great that Eerola-Yhtiöt has taken sensible, open-minded and innovative action through the use of alternative fuels. We’re really happy to be able to be involved in the Eerola-Yhtiöt project,” says Jani Tolonen, Sales Director, Mercedes-Benz Vans, Veho Commercial Vehicles.
The utilization of FOG sludge in fuel production helps achieve considerable emission cuts. Eerola-Yhtiöt switching eight vehicles to biogas reduces the CO2 emissions from their use by an annual total of up to 2,600 tonnes. This corresponds to the rate of emissions from the heating of almost 600 homes (70 m2 in floor area).
”The utilization of FOG sludge collected by Eerola-Yhtiöt is proof of the practical realization of circular economy. The utilization of waste supports Finnish employment, and biogas as a fuel helps cut transport emissions. We’re pleased to be able to support the achievement of both of these targets,” says Jani Arala, Senior Manager, Sales, Biogas, from Gasum.
Gasum biogas is a Finnish biofuel that is produced from fully renewable raw materials. Biogas is a versatile energy source sold to industry, service providers, heat and power production, homes and restaurants using gas cookers, and for use as a road vehicle fuel. Biogas has been awarded the Nordic Ecolabel and road fuel biogas also the Made in Finland Key Flag Symbol.
For more information please contact:
Jani Arala, Senior Manager, Sales, Biogas, Gasum Ltd
Phone: +358 44 054 8583, firstname.surname(a)gasum.fi
Pasi Eerola, Managing Director, Eerola-yhtiöt Oy
Phone: +358 400 415 602, firstname.surname(a)eerolayhtiot.fi
Henna Wickström, Managing Director, Scania Suomi Oy
Phone: +358 50 304 8763, henna.wickstrom(a)scania.fi
Jani Tolonen, Sales Director, Veho Oy Ab
Phone: +358 40 0937733, jani.tolonen(a)veho.fi
Energy company Gasum, read more about our Company.
Eerola-Yhtiöt is a family business operating in the environmental management sector. We serve municipal, building services and industrial engineering maintenance and construction nationwide in Finland. We provide our customers with water and wastewater system management and maintenance services as well as related services. www.eerolayhtiot.fi
Scania is part of Volkswagen Truck & Bus GmbH and one of the world’s leading manufacturers of trucks and buses for heavy transport applications. Scania is also a leading provider of industrial and marine engines. Service-related products account for a growing proportion of the company’s operations, assuring Scania customers of cost-effective transport solutions and maximum uptime. Scania also offers financial services. Employing some 400 ,000 people, the company operates in about 100 countries. Research and development activities are concentrated in Sweden, while production takes place in Europe and South America, with facilities for global interchange of both components and complete vehicles. In 2015, net sales totaled SEK 95 billion and net income amounted to SEK 6.8 billion. www.scania.com
Part of Finland’s leading vehicle retail group, Veho Commercial Vehicles imports and sells Mercedes-Benz and Fuso Canter commercial vehicles as well as Setra buses. The product range is broad and covers all transport needs from passenger to special heavy-duty transport. Understanding customer needs is at the core of our operations, and we help our customers design a comprehensive transport solution that is tailored for their business. Fleet mobility is ensured by commercial vehicle professionals at service outlets around Finland. CharterWay rental vehicles offer solutions to customers’ rapidly changing vehicle needs whether they require a replacement for a few days or have longer-term rental needs. www.vehotrucks.fi
