World's Largest Biogas Plant Inaugurated in Finland

HELSINKI — The world's largest biogas plant was inaugurated on Finland's western coast Monday as the country seeks to limit its use of foreign coal.

Built near an existing coal-fired power plant in Vaasa, central Finland, the 140 megawatt biomass gasification factory is expected to cut coal use by up to 40%.

Fuelled mainly with wood residue from Finland's large forestry sector, the plant is expected to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions by 230,000 tons per year while providing both heating and electricity for Vaasa's approximately 61,000 residents.

The plant's operator, Vaskiluodon Voima, said it would also help create hundreds of new jobs in the region.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2013