In the Region of Northern Denmark, the Port of Hanstholm has taken the first step towards becoming Europe's first CO2-neutral fishing port.

The ambition was announced on 3 January  following the signing of letter of intent with the Danish developer of renewable energy, European Energy. In addition to solar and wind energy plants, the partnership will see the two jointly explore the establishment of a Power-to-X plant to produce both e-methanol and hydrogen – both of which can be used for zero-carbon mobility.

The objective for Port of Hanstholm and European Energy  is to convert the majority of the enormous region into a local energy community. Known as ‘Hanstholm Energifælleskab’, the realization of the first of its kind energy community seeks to bring in investors, technology partners and create a green eco-system on the harbor's new hinterland area. Following large-scale expansions over recent years, the Port of Hanstholm has a prospect of rich activity on its 130,000 m2 large area.

Related news: Europe’s largest PtX facility to be built in Esbjerg, Denmark 

A game-changer for a green future

The aim of the new partnership is to pave the way for the Port of Hanstholm to become Europe's greenest and first CO2-neutral fishing harbor. The project puts full focus on Power-to-X through a strong port symbiosis, where recycling of residual products from local industry turns into renewable energy.

“With the expansion of the Port of Hanstholm, we have the right capacity to kickstart an energy adventure that can support green conversion, attract billions of investments from green industries and create extra work for, among others, the many local service companies at Hanstholm Harbor and contractors throughout Thisted Municipality. In this way, we want to show how a fishing port can also be an energy port and create strong synergy between the fishing industry and green energy”, says port director Nils Skeby.

The announcement follows a string of ambitious project developments seeking to creating a global, green hub in the Region of Northern Denmark where researchers and business can access state-of-the-art test and demonstration facilities.

Related news: Power-to-X plant in Aalborg will produce green methanol from local waste-based CO2

Potential that extends far beyond Hanstholm

The establishment of Hanstholm Energifælleskab is not only an important step for the development of the Port of Hanstholm, but for the whole of Thy and the national green transformation. According to Thisted Municipality's future mayor, Niels Jørgen Pedersen, this will make the Port of Hanstholm a leading port for CO2-neutral port operations in Europe:

“Hanstholm Energifælleskab will create an energy community that propagates as a green echo to all the actors in and around the harbor who can either supply or consume central energy resources. This applies to sources such as CO2 and electricity, but also oxygen and residual waste from the fishing industry and aquaculture facilities”, says the future mayor.

The partners behind the new development seeks to create a global example of how fishing and renewable energy can go hand in hand and create an inspirational business case for industrial clusters across ports all over the world:

“The Port of Hanstholm has launched a very ambitious energy vision, where we see great potential in becoming a partner for the realization of Hanstholm Energifællskab - and in this way not only contribute to developing renewable energy as a business area at the Port of Hanstholm, but also to delivery of the green energy forms of the future to port's users," says CEO and founder of European Energy, Knud-Erik Andersen.

Photo creadit: Port of Hanstholm