VTT Launches CO2 Capture Pilot Plant in Espoo

VTT and its partners have launched a pilot plant in Espoo, Finland, designed to convert captured carbon dioxide into compounds that can substitute fossil raw materials in plastics and chemicals. This innovative facility, constructed using sea containers, began operations in August. The project highlights Finland's potential to leverage renewable energy, the hydrogen economy, and bio-based carbon dioxide emissions from industrial sources to foster new sustainable industrial activities and drive growth in the green economy.

Finland is aiming to leverage bio-based carbon capture as a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with the Government Programme setting ambitious goals to expand the use of technological carbon sinks. The Forest CUMP project, conducted by VTT and LUT University, has explored how bio-based carbon dioxide from sources like the forest industry and waste incineration can be captured and transformed into valuable products such as polypropylene and polyethylene. Building on these promising findings, VTT and its partners have inaugurated a pilot plant at the Bioruukki pilot centre in Espoo, Finland, using sea containers to bring these advancements into practical application.

Juha Lehtonen, Research Professor at VTT, highlighted Finland's significant potential in leveraging bio-based carbon dioxide. He explained that the country generates approximately 30 million tonnes of bio-based carbon dioxide annually. Capturing and converting this CO2 could position Finland as a major producer and exporter of high-value products like polymers and transport fuels made from CO2 and hydrogen. Lehtonen emphasized that this technology presents a substantial export opportunity for renewable products. Given Finland's extensive forest industry, it stands out for its ability to utilize bio-based CO2. He noted that such large sources of bio-based CO2 are rare outside the Nordic countries.

The Forest CUMP project is executed in close collaboration with business partners under Business Finland's Veturi ecosystem, which fosters sustainable development. Borealis, a key participant in the Veturi ecosystem, is actively involved in the project. Forest CUMP aligns with Borealis' SPIRIT programme, which aims to drive the green transition within the plastics industry, highlighting a shared commitment to advancing sustainability and reducing environmental impact through innovative solutions.

The project, backed by Business Finland, is integrated into the Business Finland Veturi ecosystem, which collaborates with major Finnish companies to advance sustainable development and achieve national carbon neutrality. Launched in August 2022, the project is scheduled to run until the end of 2024. It involves leading industry players including Borealis, Neste, ABB, Metsä Spring, Kemira, Vantaa Energy, Stora Enso, Kleener Power Solutions, Carbonreuse Finland, Fortum, and Essity. VTT and LUT University also contribute as research partners, driving innovative solutions in the pursuit of sustainability.