A number of cars that run on ethanol can be found on the market. The CEO of St1 Biofuels, Mika Aho, says that for all practical purposes, such cars are the same as those that run on normal petrol, only adapted to tolerate the burning of ethanol in their engines.

"In terms of price, these so-called flexible cars cost about the same as petrol-driven versions," explains Aho.

Companies and industries in the Päijät-Häme region that use grains are the suppliers of raw material for the plant. Much of the waste from processes at bakeries, shops, breweries and distilleries are suitable for ethanol production. Leftover dough and the mix of yeast, sugar and alcohol remaining from beer brewing at the nearby Hartwall brewery go into making fuel.

Up to now, much of this waste has gone into animal feed, landfill or down the sewer. Hartwall's R&D Director Jorma Rasi has been leading the "grain cluster" group providing raw materials to the plant.

"As individual companies we are all too small to do this. But, by cooperating we can guarantee enough raw material, for example, for this kind of bioethanol plant," says Rasi.

St1 hopes that in cooperation with the food processing industry, it can open new export opportunities. Mika Aho has heard rumours are circulating in various parts of the world about his bioethanol plant being built alongside a brewery.

"We know that there are breweries elsewhere keeping a close eye on how well be succeed. This could become a whole new type of export product."