Coming from a partnership that began three years ago, ingredients company Palsgaard and wastewater treatment facility Hedensted Spildevand have commenced the building of Palsgaard Bio Energy A/S. This biogas facility, located in Juelsminde, Denmark, has a completion date targeted for the first half of 2022.

This new facility will house technology that converts biogas from wastewater, which will then be used for heating. This answers an issue raised by Palsgaard three years ago, on how they can re-utilise wastewater as they saw it as a useful material rather than something to discard.

Besides reusing wastewater, the facility allows Palsgaard to maintain CO2 neutrality and lower their carbon footprint. This is despite boosting its production of emulsifiers and stabilisers to 2030, therefore increasing wastewater yield by 8% every year.

“I am very pleased that we, in close and good cooperation with Hedensted Spildevand, have been able to realise the plan to establish and operate a biogas facility that will benefit the environment, local communities and Palsgaard’s continued growth. I am sure that this cooperation will inspire others to find similar solutions,” Kim Bøjstrup, Palsgaard COO said.

“For many years Palsgaard has been considering the environment and included sustainability in all projects. Since our factories became carbon neutral in 2018, we have wished to maintain carbon neutrality even when our production expands,” says Anders Brix. “The biogas facility is just one of several measures to ensure this neutrality going forward.” Anders Brix, CEO of the Schou Foundation which owns Palsgaard commented.

The biogas facility will be able to treat 350 m3 of wastewater daily, yielding as much as 70 m3 of biogas. It lets the production cut the consumption of natural gas and avoid 1,200 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.

The Palsgaard Bio Energy A/S plant will benefit the local community as well. It will let the Juelsminde citizens save costs as there will be no need for the municipality to establish a biogas facility from scratch.

“By establishing a biogas facility with Palsgaard, we free up additional resources that benefit both the local community and the environment. Juelsminde Wastewater Facility is just one of the treatment plants in the municipality, so for us this collaboration has inspired us to develop energy and CO2-reducing projects in collaboration with other companies in the municipality to benefit the environment,” Ole Pedersen, CEO at Hedensted Spildevand said.

“As part of the nationwide DK2020 cooperation, Hedensted Municipality has committed to a target of 70% reduction of the municipality’s CO2 emissions by 2030 – I am pleased to see that cooperation between the municipality and the local business community can contribute to this,” Remarked Mayor of Hedensted Municipality Kasper Glyngø

Emulsifiers and stabliisers for bakery, confectionary, dairy and meat products are the main product offerings from Palsgaard. These sustainably sourced and natural ingredients improve quality and extend shelf life of the end-products.