Saint-Gobain Isover

Biomethane solution brings Forssa factory close to net-zero emissions

Part of the Saint-Gobain Group, Isover’s Forssa factory specialises in glass wool products. These products require large amounts of energy to manufacture. To address this, a biogas pipeline was installed in 2010 from a local biogas plant to the factory, but supply volumes have not always kept up with demand. To ensure continuous production, backup systems have been necessary, and fossil fuels have been used as a supplementary energy source.

“Security of energy supply is critical in industrial processes, as production interruptions directly affect costs and delivery schedules. Due to our climate strategy, we needed a new biogas solution that would guarantee a continuous flow of clean energy even during peak demand,” says Juha Strandberg, Operations Director at Isover Finland.

Biogas pipeline and containers ensure security of energy supply

At the heart of the collaboration between Nevel and Isover is a local biogas solution. Nevel delivers purified biomethane from its Forssa biogas station directly into Isover’s glass wool factory via a pipeline. The methane content of the supplied biogas has increased from around 60% to nearly 98%, improving its calorific value and combustion efficiency.

“Our cooperation with Nevel has been long-term and constructive. Together, we have made significant progress in upgrading the biogas and improving supply reliability,” Strandberg says.

Isover has also invested in a pressure reduction station, so it can supplement Nevel’s pipeline gas deliveries with containerised gas when needed. This ensures consistent energy flow in all production situations. “The new solution complements the overall system and gives us more flexibility when it comes to gas availability,” Strandberg adds.

Biogas fits industrial processes perfectly

The Forssa factory is already close to net-zero emissions, but the work continues. Isover and Nevel are currently exploring new cooperation opportunities at other locations, such as Hyvinkää and Kirkkonummi.

“This has been an important learning and development project for us. The Forssa biogas initiative is unique even from the perspective of the entire Saint-Gobain Group. We have shown that biogas and industrial processes can work in perfect symbiosis and we want to replicate this model elsewhere in the future,” summarises Strandberg.

“Our shared goal is to continue developing solutions that move industry toward a climate-positive future in a responsible and economically sustainable way,” Eurén concludes.