Life Lessons from a Biogas Plant

Today my EPS project team traveled to Nykarleby, a town 50 km northeast of Vaasa, to see one of the region's biogas plants. This one, Jeppo Biogas, produces biogas from pig slurry, waste from a potato factory, and nearby agricultural waste. Half of their gas is upgraded into biomethane and sold to Mirka, a company that specializes in dust-free sanding products. The other half is used as-is to provide heat for the plant and a nearby meat producer. I would continue with some more nerdy ramblings, but I'll spare you.

Some background information to explain my sudden interest in this particular green energy. My EPS project aims to map the available substrates for biogas production in the Ostrobothnia region of Finland and investigate the technologies available for upgrading biogas to biomethane. We are hoping to create a link between biogas research at the university and local industry.

My project team in front of the anaerobic digesters - Olivier (France), Cindy (China), Delali (Togo), me, & Massimo (Italy)

Today's visit was beneficial for me in a lot of ways. First, it's always nice to see firsthand something you've been researching. Everything I've read was reinforced or elaborated at the plant, which really helped my learning. Plus the engineering behind everything is just so cool.

Second, it's great to see more of Finland than just Vaasa and in more ways than just as a tourist. I love discovering this country in every way I can, with every sense and in every perspective.

And finally, anaerobic digestion can teach an important life lesson.

Um, Gina, what are you talking about?

You see, the methanogenic bacteria that decompose the substrates are very simple creatures in more than just anatomy (or lack thereof?). They want the same routine, or more realistically they want to eat the same thing every day. It helps them succeed and produce the most biogas.

The engineer who guided us through the plant used to work at a major international power company. Now, at Jeppo, he is one of only four people who keep the plant operating. He has seen what it's like to go from performing one specialized task in a huge corporation to being a do-everything engineer at small company. "Change companies at least once in your career if you can," he advised us.

This sparked an interesting discussion about how oftentimes we are just like the bacteria (stay with me, people). We want to continue doing the same things we've always done because it's comfortable and those are the things we know how to do.

When a new material is introduced into an anaerobic digester, biogas production often decreases because the bacteria really does like eating the same thing every day. There's sort of a curve, or at least I imagine it this way, that the bacteria has to get over before  production can stabilize and increase. But once it gets over this imaginary curve, production really can increase because a mixture of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates is needed for lucrative biogas production.

So even when we want to be like this bacteria and refuse to welcome change, we need to remember that change is good for us. It will help us be more lucrative, whether that's in our careers, relationships, or outlook on life.

I came to Nykarleby expecting an engineering lesson and instead I got a life lesson.

Discussing with one of the engineers over coffee