Heleä Solutions for Advancing Green Transition through Increased Ash Utilization and Ash Fertilization

The project focuses on solving the issues identified in the Responsible Forest Fertilization for Climate Benefits (2021-2023) project coordinated by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. The issues identified in the project include harmful substances in ash, logistical challenges posed by scattered small quantities, environmental impacts of fertilization, lack of information among ash producers and forest owners, and inefficiency in marketing. Given the benefits of ash utilization, the national goal is to triple the amount of ash fertilization to 30,000 hectares per year. This strong growth necessitates the utilization of smaller, scattered ash batches and improving the quality of existing ash batches by removing detrimental substances.

The project work packages and key outcomes are as follows:

WP 1: Investigating Ash Availability and Usage Methods (Finnish Forest Centre) Outcome: Identify current ash challenges, assess ash availability now and in the future.

WP 2: Assessing and Improving/Enriching Ash Quality (Center of Expertise for Circular Economy, University of Jyväskylä)

Outcome: Propose new technologies for enhancing ash quality and increasing utilization rate.

WP 3: Developing Methods, Technology, and Logistics to Support Business Operations (JAMK University of Applied Sciences)

Outcome: Provides proposals for quality control of small ash batches, measurement methods, and logistics to support business operations.

WP 4: Exploring Ash Business Opportunities (JAMK University of Applied Sciences) Outcome: Develop new business possibilities to support business operations.

WP 5: Activating Forest Owners and Forestry Professionals to Increase Ash Utilization in Peatland Forest Fertilization (Finnish Forest Centre)

Outcome: Tripple the ash fertilization quantity within 10 years.

WP 6: Project Communication, Training Materials, and Administration (JAMK University of Applied Sciences)

Outcome: Increase knowledge and awareness of ash. Achieves the project's set objectives.

The project is targeted primarily small and medium-sized heating plants producing ash in Central Finland, fertilizer industry using ash as a raw material, companies providing fertilization services, start-up companies, machinery manufacturers, transportation sector, emerging companies planning ash purification, forest owners, and forestry professionals.

The project is carried out by JAMK University of Applied Sciences, Center of Expertise for Circular Economy at the University of Jyväskylä, and the Finnish Forest Centre.

The project supports the goals of Central Finland's transition plan, Central Finland's strategy, Carbon-Neutral Central Finland, and Central Finland's Forest Program. Increasing ash utilization as peatland forest fertilization promotes circular economy, mitigates climate change, aids future forest industry raw material supply, and advances forestry-related SMEs in the region. As part of the 'Täsmäsuo' initiative, the project aims to modernize peatland forest management and raise the profile of Central Finland as an RDI expert in the forest sector.