Lesjöfors goes fossil-free and reduces emissions by up to 90 per cent

On April 1, the subsidiary Lesjöfors Fjädrar in Mid-Sweden began the shift to biogas, which is a fossil-free energy source. The green transition will reduce the company’s carbon dioxide emissions by 70-90 per cent.

Lesjöfors Fjädrar has previously used propane gas as the energy source, which is a fossil-based fuel. The plant is one of the Lesjöfors Group’s top consumers of gas. The biogas system estimates to reduce the company’s carbon dioxide emissions by 70-90 per cent (1,600-2,000 tonnes) on an annual basis, calculated “well to wheel”.

Biogas originates from a biological source instead of a fossil. The biogas that Lesjöfors will start using on April 1 is extracted exclusively from bio-based residual products or bio-based waste. The raw material for biogas production comes from a number of different residual raw materials, such as slaughter waste, used frying oil and food industry waste such as sugar beet shells. This means that the CO2 emission reduction is always at least 70 per cent (transportation included) from the producer to the customer’s LPG tank.

Jan Carlson, MD of Lesjöfors Fjädrar comments on the transition: “The transition to biogas will be simple and smooth. No new investments or adaptations are required as the biogas has the same energy value and properties as the propane gas. Biogas is entitled to a governmental refund of energy and carbon dioxide tax, so the price difference will not be excessive in the end.”

The biogas project is an important contribution to achieving the set climate goals for the Beijer Alma Group. One of the group’s four focus areas is about reducing climate impact through reduced emissions of CO2 equivalents from energy use and other areas.

Ola Tengroth, CEO of the Lesjöfors Group comments on the biogas project: “The biogas plant is one of many sustainability projects in the group where we really show our commitment to the green transition. We are following the project with great interest and will systematically evaluate the biogas project towards our goals, and if all goes well, there is a high probability that more companies in our group are to follow.”