Government backs support for €70 million carbon capture plant

Finland’s government has backed €21 million in investment support for a planned biogenic carbon dioxide capture plant at Metsä Fibre’s pulp mill in Rauma, Yle reports. Construction is not yet certain.

The plant is expected to cost about €70 million. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will make the final support decision during the autumn.

Niklas Von Weymarn, chief executive of Metsä Spring, Metsä Group’s innovation company, said the investment decision would be made no earlier than the beginning of next year.

Demand for the captured biogenic carbon dioxide will be a key factor in the decision, Von Weymarn said. In practice, Metsä Group wants assurance that plans to produce renewable e-fuels, for example, will move forward. E-fuel production requires both biogenic carbon dioxide and green hydrogen.

The planned plant is also awaiting an environmental permit. It would capture about 100,000 tonnes of biogenic carbon dioxide a year from the pulp mill’s flue gases.

Metsä Group said it was satisfied with the results of tests carried out at a pilot plant.