Sweden's Biogas Expansion
Domsjö Fabriker and Adven Partner to Boost Sweden's Liquefied Biogas Supply, Reducing Emissions
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Swedish biorefinery Domsjö Fabriker is teaming up with energy infrastructure firm Adven to build a large-scale liquefied biogas (LBG) plant at High Coast Innovation Park in Örnsköldsvik, PR Newswire reports. At full capacity, the facility will produce 100 GWh of LBG per year — enough to replace roughly 10 million liters of fossil diesel and cut carbon dioxide emissions by about 26,700 tonnes annually.
The project turns industrial waste streams from Domsjö's existing biorefinery into fuel for heavy trucks and ships. It is one of Sweden's most significant steps yet toward weaning its freight sector off fossil fuels.
How Waste Streams Become Fuel for Heavy Trucks
Domsjö Fabriker has produced biogas since the 1970s, but only for internal energy use. This project changes that. The plan is to capture side streams and excess energy flows within the industrial cluster, upgrade the raw biogas, and then liquefy it for sale on the open market, according to PR Newswire. LBG works like liquefied natural gas (LNG) but is made from biological waste rather than fossil sources.
The site is designed around industrial symbiosis — one company's waste becomes another's raw material. Domsjö currently produces around 13 million cubic meters of biogas per year, equal to about 90 GWh. The new plant would push output well beyond that threshold and send the fuel into Sweden's commercial transport network for the first time.
Adven Brings Infrastructure Muscle to the Deal
Adven specializes in energy, water, and side-stream infrastructure for industry. CEO Jonas Sjölander said the two companies can "take advantage of existing industrial flows and develop circular, resource-efficient solutions that create value for both industry and all of Sweden," according to ADVFN.
Domsjö Fabriker CEO Björn Vedin called the project "well aligned with the ambition to create the best climate effect per krona invested." He added that fast cooperation with local and regional authorities will be "crucial to keep the schedule," PR Newswire reported. The parent company, India's Aditya Birla Group, provides the financial backing behind the expansion.
Sweden's North Has No Gas Grid — That's Why LBG Matters
Northern Sweden is not connected to the main European gas grid. That means the only practical way to move biogas to trucking hubs or Baltic shipping ports is to liquefy it first. LBG can be loaded into tankers and trucked to refueling stations anywhere in the country. For heavy transport operators, it offers a drop-in replacement for diesel with no engine changes needed.
The project has applied for a grant from Klimatklivet, Sweden's national climate investment program run by the Environmental Protection Agency, Yahoo Finance reported. Similar LBG projects in Sweden have received Klimatklivet grants of between SEK 135 million and SEK 154 million (roughly $13–$15 million USD). A decision on that application is pending.
Permitting Delays and a Cautionary Tale Next Door
The partnership aims to reach full production by 2028. But large biogas projects in Sweden often hit delays at the permitting stage. Environmental and building permits must pass through both Örnsköldsvik municipality and the regional County Administrative Board. Experts warn that "long and complicated permitting" is the top risk to the timeline.
The region has seen green energy ambitions stumble before. Ørsted recently cancelled its FlagshipONE green hydrogen project nearby, citing electricity prices and subsidy uncertainty. The Domsjö project also sits close to a planned e-methanol facility by Liquid Wind, which could eventually compete for some of the same industrial byproducts. Still, local authorities have historically backed Domsjö's expansions, viewing the mill as a cornerstone of the regional economy.
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