– unique cooperation between the industrial, agricultural and energy sectors

Solrød biogas plant is established in close cooperation with CP Kelco, VEKS, Chr. Hansen, Bigadan A/S and the agricultural sector. It is a powerful and convincing example of public-private cooperation. The parties have agreed to establish a biogas plant, which they all consider of great potential. Particularly, this close cooperation between the parties is key to the realisation of the Solrød biogas project and to meeting the requirements in order to obtain project subsidies from players such at the EU, Region Zealand and Growth Forum Zealand. Also, the coming together of numerous skills has been pivotal to the success of the project, and Roskilde University in particular has provided essential input to the project development. 

“The success of the project is greatly based on this interesting public-private cooperation between the municipality, suppliers, outlets, and research institutions. At the same time, the project has attracted people with various kinds of expertise which are essential in order to manage a project of this nature”, explains Niels Hörup.

Subsequent to the recent establishing of Solrød Biogas A/S, in which Solrød Municipality is the sole shareholder and Mayor Niels Hörup is the Chairman of the Board, the next step was to secure the agreements.

After a long process of ongoing negotiations, Solrød Biogas A/S has entered into agreements with business partners. A contract has been signed with Bigadan A/S, which has the turnkey contract and the operation responsibility for the first five years of production. Additionally, contracts have been signed with suppliers of by-products, CP Kelco and Chr. Hansen, which will supply pectin and carrageenan residue and eluate for the biogas plant respectively. Moreover, agreements have been reached with VEKS, which is to buy the biogas and convert it into power and heat for the users in and around the capital of Denmark. Solrød Biogas A/S has also signed agreements with local farmers, including Taagemarksgaard, Maglegaarden, Niemanns Maskinstation and Bjeragergaard & Nygaard I/S, who will supply slurry and take degassed biomass from the biogas plant.

 Chairman of the Board, Niels Hörup, states:

“It all started with an odour problem due to seaweed fouling the beach. Inspired by the traditional use of seaweed in agriculture, we began considering seaweed a resource. A couple of experts believed the seaweed to have gas potential. Subsequently, the project took off and we realised that by cooperating with the industry we were able to contribute to increasing the reutilisation and to generate a gas product which – to companies such as VEKS – can be converted into a major power and heat potential.”

The biogas plant is key in order to meet the ambitious 2025 climate objectives of Solrød Municipality, and with the board signing the agreements and initiating the final construction phase, a considerable step has been taken towards realising the biogas plant and thus the realisation of the municipality’s climate objectives.

Niels Hörup continues:

“Now the climate efforts of the municipality are really taking off. The municipality has set an objective of reducing the municipal greenhouse gas emission by 50 % by 2025. The biogas plant is expected to provide more than half of this reduction.”

It is expected that the final project phase will be completed in the late summer of 2015, and then the plant will be ready to supply gas for green power and heat.

Further information can be obtained at www.solrodbiogas.dk or by contacting Chairman of the Board Niels Hörup at +45 5618 2001 or acting Managing Director Jens Bach at +45 5618 2310.