An order has been placed by European Energy for the delivery of an electrolyzer plant by Siemens Energy.
European Energy is developing what it says will be the world’s first large-scale commercial e-methanol production facility. The proposed plant is to be located in Kassø, South Denmark, and hydrogen will be provided by a 50MW Siemens Energy electrolyzer plant.
Situated near to a 300MW solar park – also developed by European Energy – the new project will benefit from access to low-cost renewable electricity, a necessity when producing cost-effective e-fuel.
At present, several businesses including shipping company Maersk will utilize the e-methanol; the collaborative project has also secured the supply of e-methanol for Maersk’s first e-methanol powered container vessel.
For the project, Siemens Energy is to design, supply and commission the entire electrolysis system, built up of three full arrays using the company’s latest and most powerful portfolio of proton exchange membrane electrolysis products. This will include transformers, rectifiers, a distributed control system and the equipment necessary for the production of demineralized water.
European Energy will handle all aspects of engineering, procurement and construction, in addition to the operation of the facility upon its completion. Commercial methanol production at the site is scheduled to begin in the second part of 2023.
“Climate change requires urgent action. Together with our partner European Energy we are taking over a first mover’s role in decarbonizing the marine industry,” commented Stefano Innocenzi, senior vice president of the New Energy Business at Siemens Energy. “With this project we will bring e-methanol to market at scale. E-methanol or derived e-fuels are predestined for long-distance ship and road transportation as well as for aviation. The project will be proof of the successful commercialization and scaling of our PEM technology.”
“We are pleased to place this important order of what is believed to be the first large-scale commercial Power-to-X-project of its kind in the world,” said Knud Erik Andersen, CEO, European Energy. “This is a crucial moment in the green transition as we move forward with the decarbonization of hard-to-abate sectors such as the shipping industry, and we trust that Siemens Energy’s outstanding know-how of electrolyzers will become a strong foundation to expand our business of delivering sustainable fuels to the world.”
