Dutch bio-methanol plant targeting bunker market eyes 2027 investment decision

Renewable fuels producer Perpetual Next's planned 220,000 mt/year bio-methanol plant in Delfzijl could start production by the end of the decade, with bunkering as a key target sector.

IMAGE: Illustration of Perpetual Next's planned DeltaNor facility. Perpetual Next

Perpetual Next expects to take a final investment decision on its DeltaNor bio-methanol plant by the end of 2027, a company spokesperson told ENGINE. Permits are among the factors the decision depends on, the spokesperson added.

"Bunkering and shipping are indeed major markets for biomethanol," the spokesperson said. "A substantial part of future production will go to those sectors."

The spokesperson said exact volumes could not be disclosed for confidentiality reasons and did not name any buyers.

On Monday, Perpetual Next and renewable hydrogen producer Lhyfe announced a memorandum of understanding to study supplying up to around 12,000 mt/year of renewable hydrogen to the plant.

The hydrogen would come from a 120 MW project Lhyfe is developing in the same Delfzijl industrial area.

Adding hydrogen to the gas DeltaNor makes from biomass could let the plant turn more of its carbon into methanol and raise output. Any supply deal is still subject to technical and commercial checks.

In April, Perpetual Next named JPB Logistics as its preferred storage partner for the plant, and the two plan to negotiate a final storage deal.

Last month, Perpetual Next hired engineering firm Bilfinger to help bring the project to an investment decision.

DeltaNor is one of five bio-methanol plants Perpetual Next is developing, alongside three in the US and one in Estonia.

By Nachiket Tekawade

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