World’s First Commercial-Scale E-Methanol Plant Begins Operations In Denmark

The world’s first commercial-scale e-methanol plant was officially inaugurated in Kassø, Aabenraa. The facility is now up and running, producing green e-methanol for use by major global companies, including Maersk, LEGO, and Novo Nordisk.

It is developed by European Energy and operated jointly by Japan’s Mitsui & Co. The plant is owned by Solar Park Kassø ApS under Kassø MidCo ApS.

European Energy holds 51% ownership, while Mitsui owns the remaining 49%. The plant is designed to produce 42,000 metric tons of e-methanol each year-roughly 53 million litres-entirely from renewable sources.

The plant has been built next to the 304 MW Kassø Solar Park- the largest solar park in Northern Europe, with an investment of around €150 million (approximately $167 million).

This location allows it to run on clean energy and integrate carbon capture and utilisation technologies.

The e-methanol is made by combining green hydrogen, produced on-site through electrolysis, with biogenic CO2 captured from biogas facilities and waste incineration plants. This process creates a clean-burning fuel with up to 97% fewer emissions compared to fossil-based methanol.

The shipping industry is one of the key sectors this plant aims to serve. With growing pressure from the International Maritime Organisation to decarbonise by 2050, shipping companies are seeking reliable low-emission fuel alternatives.

Maersk, one of the world’s largest shipping companies, is among the main offtakers of e-methanol from Kassø. The company operates a fleet of 13 dual-fuel methanol-powered container vessels and has placed orders for another 13. It confirmed that the annual output of the Kassø plant is sufficient to power one large 16,000-TEU vessel sailing between Asia and Europe.

Smaller vessels, like Laura Maersk- the world’s first container ship that can run on methanol- require about 3,600 tons of fuel annually. The vessel was scheduled to refuel near Kassø on the day of the inauguration.

Besides shipping, the e-methanol will be used in various industrial sectors to replace fossil-based methanol. The LEGO Group plans to use it in the production of select LEGO pieces, such as cross axles and connectors, without compromising on safety or durability.

Meanwhile, Novo Nordisk will utilise it for making injection pens, helping the company reduce its environmental impact. Excess heat generated during the production process will not go to waste- it will be redirected to heat around 3,300 homes in the local area.

Officials from all the involved companies discussed the importance of this project for the green transition. According to European Energy, the inauguration of the Kassø facility is a significant moment in bringing Power-to-X technologies into real-world use.

Mitsui highlighted the importance of international cooperation in scaling up low-emission solutions. Maersk stated that although production from Kassø is a small portion of global fuel needs, it’s a critical starting point in building a scalable, cost-effective green fuel supply.

European Energy acknowledged that e-methanol is currently more expensive than traditional fuel, mostly because it hasn’t been widely produced until now.

The company discussed the need to expand production and reduce costs so that cleaner fuels can become a mainstream choice.

Reference: europeanenergy

Source: Maritime Shipping News