Green Fuels Goes Mainstream with Large-Scale Commercial Production

Europe: Europe's largest commercial plant for producing Green Methanol for marine use is about to commence construction, marking an important development towards the industrialization of the e-fuel economy. Siemens Energy is set to provide the project with an impressive 70MW of electrolyzer capacity, as well as plant-wide electrification services, advanced automation systems, cutting-edge digitalization solutions, and top-of-the-line process gas compressors.

This initiative represents a significant milestone in the journey towards mass production of green Hydrogen. With Hydrogen being a crucial component of a decarbonized energy system required to meet climate pledges, large-scale production of green Hydrogen and its derivatives, including e-Methanol, e-Ammonia, and other e-fuels, must be achieved industrially by nations and companies worldwide.

To establish a green Hydrogen economy, it is crucial to have access to renewable energy and electrolyzers that can generate Hydrogen using renewable electricity and water. The production of green Hydrogen can be further processed by dedicated power-to-x facilities, which can convert it into eco-friendly alternatives to fossil fuel products derived from oil and natural gas. E-Methanol is a highly promising synthetic compound that can be produced using electricity and offers several advantages. It is easy to store and transport, compatible with existing infrastructure, and can be utilized in various industrial processes and as a fuel additive or substitute for traditional fossil fuels.

The global marine industry, responsible for 3% of the world's CO₂ emissions, is exploring the use of e-Methanol to achieve Carbon neutrality. In 2018, international shipping alone contributed 740 million metric tons of CO₂ emissions, highlighting the urgency for sustainable solutions. The shipping industry is already adopting 'dual fuel' engines that can operate on e-Methanol, traditional fuel, or a combination of both. However, producing e-Methanol on an industrial scale remains a challenge as electrolysis and power-to-x processes are not yet established or readily available. Furthermore, complete e-Methanol plants with CO₂ capture and Methanol synthesis capabilities are not yet commercially available, making synthetic fuel production insufficient to meet current demands.

Aiming to revolutionize the energy industry, Swedish firm Liquid Wind AB has teamed up with energy company Orsted to create a new facility called FlagshipONE. This ground-breaking project is set to be built on a biomass-fired combined heat and power plant site in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden. The eco-friendly facility will be powered by low-cost renewable electricity and equipped with four proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers, a Methanol reactor, and a CO₂ capture unit at the biomass plant. By utilizing this setup, the production of e-Methanol will meet all criteria to be classified as green-certified.

Siemens Energy and Liquid Wind are joining forces to build FlagshipONE, Europe's largest commercial e-Methanol production plant. This state-of-the-art facility will generate an impressive 50,000 tons of e-Methanol each year, effectively preventing 100,000 tons of CO₂ emissions annually. The project developers are working together with specialists in electrolysis, Carbon capture, and Methanol production to design and produce a scalable blueprint for future e-Methanol plants, aligning with Siemens Energy's goal to scale-up Hydrogen production.

Orsted announces the acquisition of FlagshipONE, the pioneering blueprint for renewable Hydrogen production. Set to commence construction in spring 2023, the plant is expected to begin Hydrogen production by 2025. Meanwhile, Liquid Wind is developing FlagshipTWO, a cutting-edge plant that will feature a 140MW capacity electrolyzer capable of supplying 100,000 metric tons of e-Methanol.