About us

Q Power today

Q Power is an innovative company that develops concrete solutions for fighting climate change. Q Power holds patents for multiple technologies related to the efficient production of synthetic fuels, used to replace fossil fuels. The company’s roots and values rise deep from the soil of Qvidja, reminding us to keep our focus on the wellbeing of nature, on concrete solutions and on customer value creation.

Our aim is to become a considerable producer of renewable energy solutions.

Mission

Our mission is to provide concrete solutions for fighting climate change.

For us, CO2 is a raw material, to be kept in a closed loop in energy production. We aspire to create a system that is based on conservation, not dependent on fossil energy.

Vision

Our vision is to enable an efficient and sustainable energy system. 

We strive towards a net-neutral carbon society. We want to solve the problem of storing renewable energy and help companies replace fossil fuels as well as decrease their CO2 emissions.

History

Our story begins where microbes have been producing methane for millions of years: in the marshlands. In 2007, professor Erkki Aura collected a culture of microbes and began researching the possibilities of utilizing them in biomethane production.

Over the years, the R&D efforts of professor Aura were joined by co-researchers and current executive team members of Q Power: Anni Alitalo and Marko Niskanen. Another milestone in the product innovation process was reached in 2016, when our primary owners Ilkka Herlin and Saara Kankaanrinta acquired the developed technology.

The journey has been long, and it has demanded a strong vision, plenty of knowledge and know-how, many attempts and failures, a pinch of good luck and a huge amount of patience. The most important part of our story have been our people: passionate to work on a concrete technology to fight climate change.

The Q stands for Qvidja, as our production site and laboratory are currently located at the premises of the Qvidja Research Farm in Parainen, Finland.

On-site piloting
2024
Syngas fermenation pilot in Sweden
Q Powers first international project was conducted with Cortus and Biokarft in Synferm project organized by BEIC. During the project, the partners carried out a pilot in which biomethane is refined from synthesis gas i.e. syngas from gasified wood material in Q Power’s bioreactor.
On-site piloting
2024
Methanation unit delivered by Q Power in P2X Solutions site Harjavalta
2022
Industrial scale methanation delivery for P2X Solutions to Harjavalta
P2X Solutions is constructing Finland's first green hydrogen plant. Part of that sustainably produced hydrogen is processed into eMethane in the 3,3 MW methanation plant delivered by Q Power.
Methanation unit delivered by Q Power in P2X Solutions site Harjavalta
2022
Fortum and Q Power co-operation in piloting. Image copyright Fortum
2022
Fortum waste-to-energy
Waste-to-Energy pilot at Fortum's Riihimäki waste incineration plant. The goal was to demonstrate CO2 capture from Fortum waste-to-energy plant flue gas and to demonstrate full synthetic methane production technical path.
Fortum and Q Power co-operation in piloting. Image copyright Fortum
2022
2021
More demonstrating with customers
Power-to-Methane cooperation begins with Kerava Energy to demonstrate CO2 capture and utilization from district heating bioenergy plants’ flue gases. World smallest methanation plant together with Wärtsilä and Soletair Power in Dubai World Fair.
2021
Q Power on-site pilot utilizes botteled botteled hydrogen
2020
Piloting with low-quality landfill gas
Q Power and LSJH, a Finnish waste treatment company, successfully piloteted the methanation of poor quality landfill gas without pre-purification. The pilot exceeded our expectations since the microbes actually cleansed some of the impurites.
Q Power on-site pilot utilizes botteled botteled hydrogen
2020
Q Power and ST1 pilot plant
2019
Q Power founded
Q Power is founded to commercialize innovations. The first industrial pilot is successfully completed at the ST1 bioethanol plant in Vantaa, Finland.
Q Power and ST1 pilot plant
2019
Q POwr technology
2015
1st generation reactor design complete
A single 1st-generation methanation rector is successfully launched for further development.
Q POwr technology
2015
2010
R&D work gains momentum
Anni Alitalo and Marko Niskanen join the team. First laboratory-scale methanation trials.
2010
2007
The methanation journey begins
Erkki Aura collects the first cultures of methanogenic microbes.
2007

Founders

Our founders and primary owners Saara Kankaanrinta and Ilkka Herlin are veterans in the fight against climate change. They are devoted to working for the health of the Baltic Sea, biodiversity and the climate. Prior to Q Power, they have founded the Baltic Sea Action Group foundation, Soilfood Ltd. and Qvidja Kraft Ltd. Kankaanrinta and Herlin are developing the Qvidja Estate to be self-sufficient in terms of nutrients and energy, while nurturing the farmland to maximize carbon capturing and biodiversity.