The World’s First Commercial E-Methanol Facility Inaugurated in Denmark

The Kassø e-methanol facility in Aabenraa, Denmark, has recently been inaugurated, marking a significant milestone in the production of sustainable methanol. Developed through a collaboration between European Energy and Mitsui & Co., this facility is the world’s first large-scale commercial e-methanol plant.

Located adjacent to Northern Europe’s largest solar park, the 304 MW Kassø Solar Park, this facility combines renewable power generation with carbon capture and utilization technologies. By utilizing biogenic CO2 and green hydrogen on-site, the facility can produce e-methanol with up to a 97 percent reduced carbon footprint compared to traditional fossil-based methanol products.

Designed to cater to sectors that are challenging to electrify, the Kassø e-methanol facility sources CO2 from biogas plants and waste incineration. With an annual production capacity of 42,000 tonnes, this plant is a key player in the transition to sustainable energy solutions.

Knud Erik Andersen, CEO of European Energy, expressed his excitement about the operational commencement at Kassø, noting the significant progress in implementing Power-to-X technologies in practical applications.

The plant draws power from the solar farm and uses captured CO2 in its production (European Energy)

Key Customers and Applications

One of the primary customers set to benefit from the e-methanol produced at the facility is A.P. Moller – Maersk. The company has committed to using e-methanol to fuel the Laura Maersk, its methanol-powered containership operating in the Baltic/Scandinavia region. The transition to e-methanol represents a significant step towards reducing carbon emissions in maritime transportation.

Despite its substantial output capacity, the facility’s production volume is relatively small compared to the overall demand. For instance, Maersk indicated that the annual output would be sufficient to fuel a single voyage of one of its larger methanol containerships, while the Laura Maersk alone requires 3,600 tons of fuel per year.

In addition to maritime applications, e-methanol from the Kassø facility will find use in industrial processes where conventional methanol is commonly utilized. Companies like the LEGO Group and Novo Nordisk have embraced e-methanol to replace fossil-based methanol in their production processes, aligning with their sustainability goals while ensuring product quality and safety standards.