Liikennebiokaasu

Liikennebiokaasu.fi (= traffic biogas) is a web site of the traffic biogas network project of North Carelia in Finland, run by Joensuu region waste management company, Joensuun Seudun Jätehuolto Oy, owned by Joensuu and four other municipalities, Kontiolahti, Polvijärvi, Liperi and Ilomantsi. Liikennebiokaasu.fi functions also as a nationwide channel for traffic biogas information.

The project was started in March 2009 after the first large traffic biogas seminar in Finland, organized by the municipality of Kontiolahti.

The first phase of the project, a preparation project, has already been carried out. The results include for example a plan for a 3-year development project, a book about renewable energy sources for traffic by the project manager Ari Lampinen (Uusiutuvan liikenne-energian tiekartta, 437 pages, in English: A roadmap for renewable traffic energy, but not translated yet), the website, a review of traffic biogas activities in 15 Swedish municipalities, newsletters etc.

Vehicle resellers, bus and taxi companies, municipal and regional climate strategy creators and technology providers have been met. There is a growing interest in traffic biogas in North Carelia.

The phase 2 of the project is planned to start in the beginning of 2010. The funding decision will be made in the end of 2009. The phases 3-6 will be prepared during the phase 2 and include a research and education project, a farm project and investment projects.

The aim of the phase 2, the development project, is to create good conditions for a network of traffic biogas production and fueling stations. The first existing possibilities for biogas upgrading are the landfill gas in Joensuu and the biogas of the water treatment plant in Joensuu. The third possibility, a biowaste reactor, is now under construction in Kitee. Other future possibilities are for example farm-scale or codigestion plants in different parts of the province.

At first a new business model will be created and after investment decisions an extensive promotion campaign in order to renew the vehicle fleet in municipal, business and private levels will be carried out.

Contact: During 10.9.-31.12.2009 project secretary Anu Laakkonen, anu.laakkonen(at)liikennebiokaasu.fi.