Valmet DNAe supports the next generation of efficient and sustainable biogas plants

The cooperation between all key stakeholders has been close: BIR AS as the plant operator, Suomen Biovoima as the EPC contractor and technology integrator, and Valmet as the automation system supplier. Valmet DNAe supports the requirements and sustainability objectives of a BREEAM-certified (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) facility through centralized process control, monitoring, data collection, reporting and system integration.

BREEAM-certified construction sets strict criteria for material use, sorting efficiency, reuse and environmental impact. This biogas project in Voss, located in the Bergen region, marks a significant step toward a new way of working. According to Øyvind Birkeland, Plant Manager at BIR: “BIR has now set a new standard for how biogas plants can be built.” Birkeland has been involved since the project’s start in 2024 and is now finalizing the documentation required for certification.

The new plant processes around 15,000 tonnes of biowaste and 30,000 tonnes of cattle slurry per year, converting local waste streams into high-value products. The output is renewable biomethane for transportation and industrial use, alongside organic fertilizer as a by-product, directly serving regional mobility, agriculture and circular economy targets.

To enable local use of biomethane, the city will establish a fueling station. Vehicles will literally run on energy produced from local food waste and cattle manure, a concrete example of circularity in action.

BIR’s earlier Circular Economy Award reflects its long-standing commitment to transparency and technological leadership. Selecting Suomen Biovoima and through it Valmet as partners was a natural continuation of this strategy.

Construction began in summer 2024, and the plant officially started operations in December 2025. Eero Tilsala, CEO of Suomen Biovoima, notes: “The trust we have received from the BIR shows that Finnish environmental technology expertise is of high quality.”

Valmet DNAe, winner of the 2025 Automation Award from the Finnish Society of Automation, is the industry’s first fully web‑based and natively cyber‑secure DCS. Its architecture supports BREEAM level requirements through secure IT/OT convergence, user‑centric engineering tools and integrated optimization and asset‑performance capabilities. It enables efficient, data‑driven operation across the entire plant lifecycle.

From BIR’s perspective, Birkeland confirms the system’s value: "One clear advantage is the reliability of the data flow we are managing. It allows us to confidently use both the data provided by Valmet’s system and the inputs coming from the various subsystems."

The plant is currently operated by four control room operators using the Valmet DNAe system. According to Birkeland, the user interface is both proactive and intuitive. As expected, certain functions require familiarization but overall the system provides clear operational support. It offers a structured and efficient environment for process management.

This biogas project reinforces BIR’s position as a leader in circular economy solutions. It demonstrates how material flows can be reused, resources recovered and waste streams managed more intelligently across the entire process chain. BIR values its customers and partners, and chooses high‑technology companies like Suomen Biovoima and Valmet to achieve more sustainable results.

The new biogas project continues the long-standing collaboration between BIR and Valmet. Valmet automation systems are already in use at BIR Ressurs’ waste-to-energy plant in Rådalen, supporting two waste incineration lines. The partnership has continued through a service agreement and the recent replacement of the control system for a steam turbine and generator line, creating a strong foundation for continued collaboration as BIR expands its biogas operations.