Biogas Efficiency in Arctic Regions

Biogas production plays an important role in the transition to renewable energy and the circular economy, but plants operating in Arctic and sub-Arctic conditions face particular challenges: cold climates raise costs, complicate process control and can reduce the efficiency of anaerobic digestion. These conditions increase investment costs and limit the growth of biogas operations across northern Scandinavia and Finland.

BEAR - Biogas Efficiency in Arctic Regions is an Interreg Aurora project (1 January 2026 - 31 December 2028) that aims to improve the efficiency, reliability and profitability of biogas production in Arctic regions. The project develops smart, data-driven process control based on predictive modelling, investigates new feedstocks and pre-treatment methods, and advances understanding of microbial communities in biogas reactors, aiming to increase energy output, reduce methane emissions and strengthen regional energy self-sufficiency.

The work is carried out by a consortium combining complementary expertise: the University of Oulu develops predictive process models for smart control; the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) conducts microbiological research; Lulea University of Technology (LTU) investigates new substrates and pre-treatment techniques; the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) provides energy-efficiency modelling and chemical analysis; and Digikierto Oy assesses the economic viability and practical implementation of the results.

BEAR is expected to deliver practical, validated solutions that small and medium-sized biogas operators - including farms and publicly owned facilities - can apply to increase energy production, cut emissions and improve profitability. The project is funded by the Interreg Aurora Programme.