In the coming years, sectors like shipping, aviation and the chemical industry must significantly reduce their CO2 emissions. A range of cooperations, such as the Danish shipping company Maersk, recognise the challenge and aim to achieve CO2 emissions reductions that exceed current legislative requirements. A key component is the large-scale production of green fuels such as e-methanol.

The world’s first large-scale commercial green methanol plant is currently under construction in Kassø, Southern Denmark, where power from a solar plant will be converted into e-methanol.

The plant features three 17.5 MW electrolysers that will annually produce 6,000 tonnes of green hydrogen from 90,000 tonnes of water sourced from its own boreholes and a local water company.

The hydrogen is combined with biogenic CO2, and through an in-house developed methanol synthesis process, the plant produces up to 42,000 tonnes e-methanol per year. Apart from Maersk, the e-methanol is shipped to off-takers such as the toy company LEGO and medical company Novo Nordisk, where e-methanol can substitute fossil fuels in production processes.

Excess heat from the e-methanol production is harnessed for sustainable district heating in the local area, with the potential to supply heat to 3,300 households, ensuring that the vast amount of energy used in this process is reused elsewhere.