Self-Service
EKT Ecobio Biogas Plant in Maardu produced a total of 600,000 m³ of biomethane in 2023, using around 10,000 tons of biowaste collected from households.
All of the production was used as transport fuel for the gas buses of Tallinn City Transport (TLT), which covered 2.24 million kilometers using it.
“In 2023, the plant was still in the installation phase, so full capacity had not yet been reached,” said Bruno Tammaru, a board member of the Estonian Environmental Protection Service. “This year, we plan to reach peak gas production capacity and receive twice as much biowaste as last year.”
As people have not yet developed the habit of separating biowaste, the necessary amount for the plant is brought in from all over Estonia. Thus, waste sorters from cities such as Tartu and Võru also contribute to the public transport system in the capital.
“Last year, 46% of the fuel needs of AS Tallinna Linnatransport’s gas buses were covered by contracted partners using biomethane, and in November this share reached almost 68%,” said Kaido Padar, a board member of TLT. “By 2025, it is expected that domestic biomethane production will reach volumes sufficient to fully meet the fuel demands of TLT’s gas buses.”
Bruno Tammaru pointed out that around 100,000 tons of kitchen and food waste are generated annually in Estonia, meaning similar plants will not face a shortage of raw materials.
“If separate biowaste collection becomes a habit for more people, Estonia will need to build several more such plants specializing in household biowaste,” he said. “Producing renewable energy is the most efficient way to manage biowaste. On one hand, it’s a vital step toward greater energy security, and on the other, it improves our waste management. Once, we were willing to eat potato peels in the name of freedom—now we have the technology to ensure that those peels help secure our energy independence.”
How is biogas produced at the Ecobio plant?
The plant can remove foreign substances from incoming material (from households, businesses, etc.). During the process, bacteria break down the biomass into smaller parts, and in the subsequent production stage, bacteria generate biogas, which contains on average 50–60% methane. This raw gas is then purified to produce biomethane, which has the same properties and energy content as natural gas.
The liquid fertilizers are also purified before being used in agriculture. The fermentation process produces about 17,500 tons of digestate annually, which is used to fertilize fields in Northern Estonia.
