28/08/2017
Start of construction works to make Arla’s production greener
Today, the first sod was turned in the construction of the biogas plant in Videbæk. The plant will convert organic matter into green gas for use at Arla’s three large-scale production facilities in the municipality of Videbæk. This will reduce carbon emissions by 34,000 tonnes per year. The plant is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.
Today Nature Energy, Denmark’s largest producer of green gas, started constructing of one of Denmark’s largest biogas plants. The plant will convert waste products from agriculture and Arla’s whey powder production into green gas. The intention is for this green gas to replace natural gas in Arla’s production, so the plant will be an important part of the company’s goal for 50% of the energy used in production to be derived from renewable energy sources:
“We’ve set an ambitious target for 50% of the energy in our production to be derived from renewable energy sources. The Videbæk biogas plant is a hands-on example of putting words into action, and we look forward to being able to replace even more natural gas with green gas from the end of 2018,” says Kristian Østerling Eriknauer, Vice President of CSR at Arla.
Arla is building the biogas plant in cooperation with local farmers, Xergi and Nature Energy, Denmark’s largest producer of green gas.
The agricultural sector sees major advantages in biogas
There is great enthusiasm for the plant in the suppliers’ association Videbæk Biogas. The plant will benefit both the environment and the bottom line:
“Once the slurry from our fields has passed through the biogas plant, we’ll get the degassed manure back as a more environmentally friendly and valuable residual product, capable of improving the yield by up to 15%. That’s why we’re very much looking forward to the plant becoming operational in about a year from now,” says Ole Kjær, chairman of Videbæk Biogas.
Construction of the biogas plant in Videbæk will provide up to 100 jobs during the construction period, with completion of the plant scheduled for the end of 2018.
About the biogas plant
- The plant is owned by Nature Energy, Arla, Xergi and the Videbæk Biogas suppliers’ association, which comprises 65 local farmers.
- Each year, the plant will process 600,000 tonnes of biomass from the agricultural sector as well as leftovers from Arla’s whey powder production. That will generate up to 27.5 million m3 of biogas.
- The system will reduce carbon emissions by 34,000 tonnes per year. That is the equivalent of the carbon emissions from 12,419 cars per year.
- Up to 100 people will be working on the construction during peak periods and, once operational, the plant will create 15 permanent jobs.