On June 16, 2026, the Halinga green gas plant was opened in Pärnu County. It is the largest of Estonia’s biogas plants to date and will produce 50 GWh of gas annually. Its launch expands the value creation of the circular economy, where agriculture and energy are closely intertwined. Biomethane production is seen as an opportunity to create more local wealth, increase independence from external crises, and shape a more sustainable economic model for the entire country.
According to Raul Peetson, a member of the management board of OÜ Halinga, Estonia could start treating grasslands as a strategic renewable natural resource. Grass is fed to animals, the animals produce milk, and biogas is produced from the manure. After gas production, the remaining digestate returns to the fields as fertilizer, helping to grow new feed.
“We are not just talking about gas here. We are talking about a complete cycle, where a local resource moves from one value chain to another, and the value created at each stage remains in Estonia,” said Peetson. In his view, the sector’s next major developmental leap lies in the valorization of digestate and launching a fertilizer factory at the plant for this purpose. In cooperation with scientists, they aim to produce precision fertilizers from the fermentation residue that meet the needs of specific fields.
Livestock farming allows for the maximum valorization of local land, growing local food, and acting as an important employer and creator of food security. With the help of the biogas plant, the fertilizer factory will receive pre-enriched raw material which, with additives, provides everything necessary for soil regeneration. It is important to note that fertilizer based on organic raw materials is better for the soil than mineral fertilizer. Raising more animals simultaneously allows to increase the amount of food, fertilizers, biogas, and the overall value created.