Jyväskylä supports circular economy pilot at the Mustankorkea site through carbon neutrality funding
The City of Jyväskylä has granted carbon neutrality funding for a pilot project to be carried out in 2026-2027 to explore the use of hydrogen and biogenic carbon dioxide in the production of renewable transport fuel at the Mustankorkea site. The pilot combines the expertise of local companies and supports the development of new circular economy and hydrogen solutions as part of the Carbon Neutral Jyväskylä 2030 objectives.
The pilot brings together material streams from Mustankorkea’s biogas plant, the technological expertise of local companies, and locally produced hydrogen, further strengthening the hydrogen innovation ecosystem being developed in Jyväskylä. The aim is to advance a novel circular economy solution that could increase the value generated from bio-based waste streams in the future without requiring an increase in waste volumes.
The funded pilot is linked to the new research and development centre being established at the Mustankorkea site by Reduciner Oy. In addition to Mustankorkea, the project involves Jyväskylä-based companies Metener Service Oy, Reduciner Oy and Cefmof Hydrogen Oy.
Towards Renewable Transport Fuel Production
Mustankorkea currently produces biogas from biowaste. During the upgrading process, carbon dioxide is separated as a by-product stream. The concept under development seeks new utilisation pathways for this carbon dioxide, for example as a feedstock for synthetic fuels and chemicals. The project will also explore opportunities to combine carbon dioxide with hydrogen to produce renewable methane.
The City of Jyväskylä's carbon neutrality funding of €71,600 will enable the investments and practical testing infrastructure required for the pilot. The funding will be used to acquire equipment needed for the pilot, including a gas chromatograph for measuring methane quality and quantity, as well as a hydrogen receiving and pressure reduction station to ensure the safe transfer of hydrogen. In addition, the funding will cover expert services related to engineering, measurements and reporting.
"The development of circular economy solutions requires opportunities to test new concepts in a real operating environment. The equipment investments made for this pilot enable important development work and help assess how material streams generated from biowaste can be utilised more efficiently in the future. At the same time, the project supports Jyväskylä’s carbon neutrality objectives and strengthens the region’s expertise in both circular economy and hydrogen technologies," says Esko Martikainen, CEO of Mustankorkea.
The long-term objective is to increase the value generated from Mustankorkea’s existing material streams while supporting the Carbon Neutral Jyväskylä 2030 targets. According to preliminary assessments, all carbon dioxide generated at Mustankorkea could potentially be converted into transport fuel, increasing the production of renewable fuels and significantly reducing the use of fossil fuels in transportation.
The purpose of the pilot is to establish a testing environment for evaluating the technology under real-life operating conditions and assessing its broader commercial and technical potential. The pilot forms part of Jyväskylä’s broader hydrogen and circular economy development activities and supports the city’s goal of accelerating clean technology business growth in the region. If successful, the concept could also serve as a model for other biogas and waste treatment facilities across Finland.
More information
Esko Martikainen
CEO of Mustankorkea
esko.martikainen@mustankorkea.fi
p. 040 724 8744
Nina Rautiainen
Program Manager, hydrogen economy, Business Development Services of City of Jyväskylä
nina.rautiainen@jyvaskyla.fi
p. 050 413 7028
