Towards carbon-neutral energy production and a sustainable future
Over the past year, we have focused particularly on the reliability of our operations as well as the planning and development of carbon-neutral energy production.
The year 2024 has been a significant turning point for our industry. The energy transition is accelerating, and at the same time, the importance of the circular economy is growing. The increasing emphasis on renewable energy sources and energy efficiency presents new opportunities but also challenges. As regulations tighten and technology advances, companies must adapt quickly.
In addition to the energy sector, the waste markets are also undergoing a major transformation, as waste-based fuels are replacing coal, peat, and partly also wood biomass in energy production. At the same time, material recycling has become a key part of both national and international goals, with legislation increasingly steering the industry towards a circular economy.
The changes happening around us also impacted Westenergy’s operating environment in 2024. However, together with our owner companies and other partners, we have successfully responded to these challenges proactively and effectively. At the same time, we have made significant progress in waste-to-energy utilisation and the development of the circular economy. Over the past year, we have focused particularly on the reliability of our operations as well as the planning and development of carbon-neutral energy production.
Westenergy’s primary mission is to safely process non-recyclable municipal waste and convert it into electricity, district heating, and recycled materials – in this, we have succeeded exceptionally well. In 2024, our plant operated steadily, maintaining a high usability rate of 95.5 percent. Overall, we produced 390 gigawatt-hours of district heating and 75 gigawatt-hours of electricity. District heating production remained stable throughout the year, and we successfully adapted to fluctuations in the electricity market in collaboration with Vaasan Sähkö Oy.
Westenergy’s primary mission is to safely process non-recyclable municipal waste and convert it into electricity, district heating, and recycled materials – in this, we have succeeded exceptionally well.
Originally, this mission – and the very foundation of Westenergy’s operations – was to address the landfill problem. However, this alone is no longer sufficient to meet society’s goals; broader solutions are needed. Thus, Westenergy’s long-term strategy is carbon-neutral energy production, and in 2024, we took significant steps toward achieving this goal.
Progress in our carbon capture and utilisation project (ECCU) will enable us to reduce emissions from the chimney of Westenergy’s plant and promote the industrial-scale reuse of carbon dioxide in the future. Over the past year, the project advanced as planned, moving into the FEED (front-end engineering design) phase through successful collaboration with Prime Capital AG and CPC Finland Oy. The international technology company Andritz AG was selected as the project’s lead designer, while Ramboll Denmark A/S was chosen as the construction management consultant. The implementation of this project supports Westenergy’s mission to be a leader in sustainable waste-to-energy solutions in Europe.
Westenergy’s long-term strategy is carbon-neutral energy production, and in 2024, we took significant steps toward achieving this goal. In particular, the carbon capture and utilisation project supports Westenergy’s mission to be a leader in sustainable waste-to-energy solutions in Europe.
Over the past year, we have also made significant investments in the development of waste utilisation and recycling. We launched the Ekoälyä project, aimed at gaining a more detailed understanding of the composition of the waste material we receive and their recycling potential. At the same time, we have explored new methods to reprocess carbon dioxide and its possible applications. In the future, carbon dioxide recycling and reuse will play a key role in fighting against climate change.
We have also actively worked to advance legislation on carbon capture and waste-to-energy utilisation, both in Finland and at the EU. The regulations governing waste-to-energy are complex and, in some areas, inadequate, and we have participated in discussions to help clarify them. Industry stakeholders are expecting the new Commission and Parliament to provide greater regulatory clarity to enable the necessary investments to move forward.
Over the past year, we also began receiving non-recyclable waste not only from the municipal areas of our owner companies but also from other parts of Europe. Deliveries have come from regions where landfilling of municipal waste is still quite common – Italy, the United Kingdom, and Northern Ireland. Since the climate is a shared concern that transcends national borders, it makes sense to address waste and energy management challenges at the European level. At the same time, we ensure that materials are utilised with high efficiency, as cleanly and effectively as possible. This approach has proven to be the right one, and in 2024, we successfully met expectations in this area. We learned to manage the logistics chain efficiently and received a total of approximately 20,000 tons of waste from other parts of Europe. This improved the balance of waste logistics and economics, while the imports did not cause any negative environmental impacts in the region. From a climate and circular economy perspective, this solution will become even more sustainable with the introduction of our new carbon capture facility.
From a climate and circular economy perspective, receiving waste from Europe will become an even more sustainable solution with the introduction of our upcoming carbon capture facility.
Investments and development efforts also continued extensively throughout the year. We started the development of AI applications for internal needs and completed several software investments, including the renewal of HR, maintenance, and IT management systems. At the same time, we placed special emphasis on cybersecurity, which is becoming an increasingly important part of ensuring stable and secure operations. Additionally, we clarified the division of responsibilities within our organisation, which has improved operational efficiency. While there has been natural employee turnover, we have also recruited new talent to strengthen our team.
In the future, we will continue to focus on our core mission – efficiently utilising non-recyclable waste as energy and recycled materials – since this creates the foundation for further development of our operations. Our key priority going forward is carbon capture and its utilisation, and we are closely monitoring changes related to emissions trading and climate policies. Through the Ekoälyä project, we ensure the proper routing of waste streams, while the reception and utilisation of non-recyclable municipal waste from Europe will become a permanent part of our operations.
The role of waste-to-energy is expanding on a European scale, and Westenergy is ready to take responsibility for driving the industry’s development by promoting a sustainable circular economy and responsible energy production.
Overall, the significance of waste-to-energy is increasing across Europe, and Westenergy is ready to take responsibility for driving the industry’s development by promoting a sustainable circular economy and responsible energy production.
I would like to sincerely thank all our owner companies and partners for their collaboration throughout 2024. Together, we have an excellent opportunity to build a more sustainable future.
Olli Alhoniemi
Managing Director, Westenergy
