Ørsted takes stake in e-methanol plant, looking to scale marine fuel production
Danish renewable energy firm Ørsted will acquire a 45% stake of Liquid Wind’s FlagshipONE, the first of several planned e-methanol plants across Sweden aiming to help decarbonise the maritime sector.
PHOTO: Biogenic carbon dioxide will be captured from the Hörneborgsverket combined heat and power plant in Örnsköldsvik in Sweden, where FlagshipONE will also be located. Ørsted
They target annual production of 50,000 mt of e-methanol produced from renewable hydrogen and biogenic carbon dioxide with a 70-megawatt electrolyser.
The electrolyser producing the hydrogen will be powered by onshore wind, and the biogenic carbon dioxide will be channelled from the Övik Energi's combined heat and power (CHP) plant.
Ørsted and Liquid Wind expect the FlagshipONE facility to be commissioned in 2024, subject to a final investment decision this year.
In November last year, Liquid Wind secured €15 million ($17 million) under the climate leap initiative by the Swedish government that support investments which reduce carbon emissions.
Several players in the shipping industry have been looking into methanol as a future fuel. Maersk has been hoarding up orders for methanol-powered vessels and plans to bring 13 vessels into operation by by 2025.
