The TREASoURcE project promotes circular economy solutions with a particular focus on the use of biobased side streams. The project has developed a policy brief for policy makers, highlighting the importance of continuing and strengthening support for the biogas sector in Finland. The policy brief highlights the key role of biogas production in increasing energy and fertiliser self-sufficiency, supporting local economies and enabling emission reductions. The project has developed concrete proposals for measures to ensure the long-term development of biogas production and the market for recycled feedstocks in Finland.
The project’s policy brief emphasises the importance of updating the national biogas programme. The programme, published in 2020 by Prime Minister Marin’s government, has not been updated and its continuation is essential for the future of the biogas sector. At the same time, the project suggests that the continuity of investment subsidies for biogas plants and grants for nutrient recycling must be ensured in order to maintain a stable development path for the sector.
Increasing demand for biogas will also require new solutions. For example, the additional obligation to distribute transport fuels should be increased to allow biogas to compete on an equal level with other alternatives on the market. In addition, it is important to maintain the support for the procurement of gas-powered heavy-duty vehicles and to extend it to public transport and delivery vehicles. This would strengthen the role of biogas, especially in heavy transport and shipping, where its emission reduction potential is significant.
The possibility of transport aid for transporting biomethane for injection into the natural gas network should also be explored. Such support could improve the competitiveness of biomethane and facilitate its market access. The recommendations also emphasise that the role of biogas in emissions regulation for heavy transport and shipping should be consolidated in favour of biogas in order to provide a clear and attractive framework for the sector.
TREASoURcE hopes that the policy recommendations can contribute to supporting policy makers and public authorities in their efforts to secure the future of the biogas sector. Biogas has an important role to play in achieving Finland’s climate goals and promoting circular economy solutions.
The recommendations now published provide a strong basis for developing the sector and supporting local economies in the future.
More information:
Nora Berglund
Project Manager, TREASoURcE project
nora.berglund (at) mtk.fi
The policy brief can be read in Finnish: here
