Metso to Deliver Gasification Technology to Göteborg Energi AB


Helsinki, Finland, 08 February 2011 -- Metso will supply a gasifier to sustain new gasification technology to Göteborg Energi AB´s innovative project GoBiGas20MW. The value of the order is approximately EUR 30 million, and the order was already included in Energy and Environmental Technology’s fourth quarter 2010 orders received. The gasification demo plant will be operational in early 2013.

The GoBiGas20MW project is focusing on producing biogas by gasification of biofuels and waste from forestry. A demonstration gasification plant is scheduled to be built in two stages to show the technology of the green gas concept. Ownership and responsibility for operating the plant will be transferred to GoBiGas AB (Gothenburg Biomass Gasification Project), mainly owned by Göteborg Energi AB. Metso will be involved in the first stage when the gasification plant (20MW gas) is built on the existing premises of Rya Värmecentral in Gothenburg, Sweden, during 2011-2013. On a commercial scale, the final plant will have a capacity of approximately 100 MW biogas with an operating period of 8000 hours/year.

The Metso gasification solution is based on new licensed technology for indirect gasification developed by Austrian company REPOTEC. With forest residue and wood pellets as main fuels, the gasification system, together with the subsequent methanation and up-grading system, will produce high-calorific gas, biomethane, for distribution in the existing gas grid.

“We see a huge market potential for biogas in replacing fossil alternatives and our mission is to show that gasification can play an important role in biogas supply,” said Åsa Burman, CEO of the GoBiGas project. “The quality of the gasification is essential for the success of the project and with the equipment from Metso together with the selected methanation and gas-upgrading technology we are now able to proceed to the next step, building the plant in order to meet our targets to replace natural gas by synthetic natural gas – from fossil energy to renewable energy.”

Metso (www.metso.com) is a global supplier of sustainable technology and services for mining, construction, power generation, automation, recycling, and the pulp and paper industries. The company has about 28,500 employees in more than 50 countries.