First large-scale commercial e-methanol facility

Aerial view of e-methanol production facility, set in countryside, with Europe's largest solar park stretching out across multiple fields above.

The world’s first large-scale commercial e-methanol facility is officially open for business in Denmark and ready to start supplying global players in markets as diverse as logistics, healthcare and toy-making.

Developed by European Energy and operated in collaboration with Mitsui & Co, the Kassø e-methanol facility has an annual production capacity of 42,000 tonnes and operates entirely on renewable energy. It is owned by Solar Park Kassø under Kassø MidCo, with European Energy holding a 51% stake and Mitsui & Co 49%.

The plant supplies industry leaders such as A P Moller-Maersk, Novo Nordisk, and the LEGO Group.

Decarbonisation of difficult sectors

Situated next to Northern Europe’s largest solar park — the 304MW Kassø Solar Park — the facility integrates large-scale renewable power generation with carbon capture and utilisation.

By combining biogenic CO2 with green hydrogen produced on-site, the new facility manufactures e-methanol with a carbon footprint reduced by up to 97% compared to fossil-based products.

The project is designed to support direct decarbonisation of sectors that are otherwise difficult to electrify.

So, A P Moller-Maersk, for example, will use e-methanol from Kassø to fuel Laura Mærsk — the world’s first container vessel capable of operating on methanol — pioneering innovation around green shipping.

Integrated logistics is evolving, says Rabab Raafat Boulos, EVP, COO at A P Moller-Maersk:

“We are excited to receive the first e-methanol from the Kassø facility, marking an important milestone in our global efforts to source alternative fuels for our vessel fleet. The future of shipping must include multiple fuel types operating alongside each other, with methanol playing a key role in the industry’s net-zero ambitions.”

As a global leader in logistics services, A P Moller-Maersk operates in more than 130 countries and employs around 100,000 people. Maersk is aiming to reach net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2040.

E-methanol from the facility will also be used in industrial processes where fossil-based methanol has traditionally been standard. One such application is in plastics, where manufacturers aim to adopt more sustainable materials while maintaining safety and quality standards.

The energy transition is a driver, says Carsten Rasmussen, COO at the LEGO Group:

“Sourcing renewable e-methanol is part of our ambition to make LEGO products more sustainable and reduce carbon emissions. Later this year, we will use the material to produce select LEGO elements — such as cross axles and connectors — while maintaining our high standards of safety, durability, and quality.”

Founded by Ole Kirk Kristiansen, in Jutland, Denmark in 1932, the LEGO Group name is derived from the two Danish words Leg Godt, which together mean Play Well. Today, LEGO remains a family-owned company, still headquartered in the town of Billund, but its products are now sold in more than 120 countries worldwide.

Change is a team game, adds Dorethe Nielsen, VP Corporate Environmental Strategy, Novo Nordisk:

“This partnership enables us to take practical steps in decarbonising our supply chain and reducing the environmental impact of our production.”

Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company founded in 1923 and also headquartered in Denmark. It employs about 77,400 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 territories.

Collaboration key to commercialisation

Crucially, both European Energy and Mitsui & Co share an ambition to accelerate commercial pathways for Power-to-X technologies and expand the use of low-emission alternatives in hard-to-abate sectors globally.

The Kassø plant is a real gamechanger, says Knud Erik Andersen, CEO of European Energy:

“The start of operations at Kassø marks a major step forward in bringing Power-to-X technologies into real-world use. This is renewable energy in action, transforming how we use electricity.”

European Energy develops, finances, constructs and operates wind and solar farms as well as Power-to-X facilities. Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, the company is developing projects in 25 countries. Founded in 2004, European Energy has a development pipeline of more than 65GW of renewable energy projects.

Power-to-X (PtX or P2X) is a term applied to technologies that convert renewable energy from primary sources (like wind and solar), into other forms of clean and green power, or alternative fuels (e-methanol). These secondary sources can then be deployed into difficult-to-decarbonise sectors, or used for storage.

Collaboration is key, concludes Takashi Furutani, Senior Executive Managing Officer at Mitsui & Co, which contributed strategic expertise and global reach to the facility’s long-term development and operation:

“We are honoured to play a pivotal role in advancing this pioneering project, which fosters integrated approaches across product value chains as part of our Global Energy Transition strategy. Kassø exemplifies the importance of international collaboration in scaling low-emission solutions.”

Mitsui & Co is a global investment and trading company with a presence in more than 60 countries and a diverse business portfolio across multiple industries. The company has set three key strategic initiatives for the medium term: supporting industries to grow and evolve with stable supplies of resources and materials, providing infrastructure; promoting a global transition to low-carbon and renewable energy; and empowering people to lead healthy lives through delivery of quality healthcare and access to good nutrition.

Further Reading: