In a global first, Denmark has launched a commercial-scale e-methanol facility in Kassø, Aabenraa, revolutionizing the green fuel industry. Developed by European Energy in collaboration with Japan’s Mitsui & Co., the €150 million ($167 million) plant will produce 42,000 tonnes of e-methanol annually—enough to power multiple industrial sectors. This synthetic fuel is created using green hydrogen from water electrolysis powered by a 300 MW solar park—Northern Europe’s largest—and biogenic CO₂ captured from biogas and incineration plants. The result is a fuel with a 97% lower carbon footprint than conventional fossil-derived methanol. E-methanol is seen as a vital solution to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors like shipping, aviation, and heavy industry.
Several major companies are already adopting the clean fuel. Maersk will use it to power its new fleet of dual-fuel container ships, starting with the Laura Maersk, which will refuel at a new terminal in Aabenraa. LEGO and Novo Nordisk are also integrating e-methanol into their supply chains—using it for sustainable plastic production and pharmaceutical devices, respectively. Moreover, the plant’s excess heat will provide district heating for 3,300 homes in the region, increasing its overall energy efficiency. Experts hail this facility as a turning point in the global energy transition, but emphasize that global production must scale up rapidly—the International Energy Agency estimates that over 250 million tonnes of e-methanol will be needed annually by 2050 to meet net-zero goals. More