Bioproduct Mill’s Side Streams to Support the Circular and Hydrogen Economy in Kannus

The Regional Council of Central Ostrobothnia and YritysKannus Oy promote the green transition in the Kannus region together. In the early stages of the planning of the bioproduct mill envisioned to be built in the region, there was a desire to find out how the facility could utilise the side streams generated during production in a way that serves the region. Rejlers completed a techno-economic study for the client, investigating opportunities for the rural region’s clean transition by utilising side streams of the bioproduct mill.

“Rejlers has strong expertise in bioeconomy, the circular economy, and the hydrogen economy. We utilised the diverse competencies of our management consulting and industry sector teams for implementing the study”, says Senior Consultant Roope Mannonen, who was managing the project from Rejlers’ side.

The study was done in three phases. In the first phase, the main stream (biogas) and side streams generated in the bioproduct mill and the potential for hydrogen production were analysed. The study looked in particular at the potential for producing green hydrogen by using purified water generated as one side stream of the bioproduct facility.

The second phase consisted of evaluating which side streams are profitable when refined further. For the side streams with the most potential, the technologies required for their refining were identified, followed by profitability calculations. Study showed that the side streams can be used to refine for example fertilisers, and it is possible to utilise significant amounts of waste heat from the different process phases in district heating network or in other industrial applications. In addition, the potential for the production of hydrogen and its derivatives is seen as significant.

The last phase of the study was a high level analysis of the potential operating models of the bioproduct mill and possible collaborators. By analysing e.g. energy production, infrastructure, and logistical options in the area, a few example operating models were presented, on the basis of which a more detailed regional cooperation model can be generated.

“Kannus is excellently positioned to become a cluster of lucrative circular economy, as the entire potential of the bioproduct mill, including side streams and hydrogen or its derivatives, is harnessed as a profitable regional activity”, says Mannonen.

The study provides Kannus with valuable information for the development of the region and a good starting point for assessing the profitability of investments.

“With the results in hand, we will continue to develop the Central Ostrobothnia region and in particular the Kannus biogas plant. At the same time, new concrete business opportunities will emerge in the Kannus Eco-Industrial Park in the future”, says Jukka Oravainen, CEO of YritysKannus Oy.

YritysKannus and the Regional Council of Central Ostrobothnia are very happy with the project and its results.

“Collaboration was smooth right from the outset, and the team clearly operates at a high level of professionalism and competence. The nicest thing to note was that the enthusiasm for exploring new opportunities was mutual. Based on this study, we can warmly recommend Rejlers’ services for the various needs of the clean transition and bioeconomy”, says Oravainen.