A Norwegian energy company is planning to build a large production plant in Nokia, located in Tampere region, Finland. The company wants to meet the strong demand for e-methane in Finland brought about by EU directives. If implemented, the plant will bring significant investments to the region and create jobs. At the same time, it will enable significant reductions in carbon dioxide emissions in European traffic. Freija produces e-methane from pure hydrogen and biogenic carbon dioxide with a cost-effective modular and patented solution that integrates an electrolysis plant. An environmental impact assessment (EIA) program has been initiated for the project, and Freija has begun engineering studies for the design phase. The project is planned to be implemented in three phases, each corresponding to one plant. The final production capacity is 58,000 tons of renewable e-methane. Production could start in 2029. ”Finland has an ambitious low-carbon target, supportive and predictable operating conditions for the green industry, fossil-free energy and a highly qualified workforce. The Tampere region is the ideal location with the capacity to scale, access to biogenic CO2, renewable power supply, strong local partners and closeness to export ports and the national gas grid”, says Kristian Hauglum, CEO Freija AS. “European heavy transport and shipping companies are driving strong demand for e-methane as they seek to reduce emissions and comply with EU regulations. Freija has already signed multiple MoUs for supply, covering 60% of the capacity for the first plant. Negotiations are underway for volumes twice that level, supporting long-term value creation for all stakeholders, Hauglum continues. Clean fuels are carbon-neutral alternatives to fossil fuels in trucking and as fuel for ships. E-methane is a renewable RFNBO-certified fuel that can replace fossil gas with current technology and infrastructure. The natural gas network can be used for e-methane transport. Currently, transport causes 16% of the world’s CO2 emissions. The e-methane produced by one of Freija’s plants enables an annual reduction of 200,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions by replacing fossil fuels. The selected location for the e-methane plant in Nokia’s ECO3 business area is 15 hectares in size and there is also room for expansion. The development of the electricity network is underway in cooperation with local electricity network companies. If implemented, the plant would also produce heat that can be used in the district heating network of the Tampere region. “We have a highly efficient plant design enabling economies of scale, flexible operations and lower costs by utilizing power price variations created by increased intermittent renewable energy production” said Reidar Strande, the co-founder and COO of Freija. “This is backed by a dedicated team with extensive industry experience and proven project execution capabilities from building and operating gas infrastructure. Together with local partners, we are progressing towards final investment decision for the first plant in 2026″, Strande continues. Investment would be significant for the Tampere region “This investment would be a significant milestone when it is implemented. It is great that we have created the conditions and infrastructure for such projects, to attract them to the Tampere region. Regional business cooperation is particularly important, and this success is a great example of that. We warmly welcome new technologies to our community and are extremely proud to support a project that combines innovation, sustainability and economic growth,” says Kalervo Kummola, Mayor of the City of Tampere. “It is great that the City of Nokia can offer a location for large industrial projects such as the Freija project. The feasibility of the project requires a significant amount of studies, such as an environmental impact assessment. Future-oriented green transition investments are significant for the entire Tampere region,” says Eero Väätäinen, Mayor of Nokia. “This investment plan is a demonstration of Finland’s competitive hydrogen industry. Finland has the most competitive supply of carbon-free electricity in the EU, combined with the availability of biogenic carbon. Together with the reuse of existing infrastructure and heat recovery, this enables a strong business model for the production of renewable fuels, supporting the sustainable reduction of industrial carbon emissions. This project will accelerate economic growth, create jobs and innovation, and promote well-being for years to come,” says Markku Kivistö, Head of Cleantech at Invest in Finland, part of Business Finland. Renewable energy investment projects in the Tampere region are managed by Chief Business Development Officer Marita Jaatinen at Business Tampere. “Without a hydrogen economy, climate goals cannot be achieved in, for example, steel and fertilizer production, air traffic and shipping,” says Jaatinen. Further information: Reidar Strande, founder and COO , Freija A.S +47 909 97 454, reidar.strande@freija.no Kristian Hauglum, CEO Freija A.S, +47 417 51 290, kristian.hauglum@vaniras.no Marita Jaatinen, Director, Business development, Business Tampere +358 40 543 4722, marita.jaatinen@businesstampere.com Marita Jaatinen Chief Business Development Officer +358 40 5434 722 marita.jaatinen@businesstampere.com +358 40 5434 722