With the ENERGY INNOVATOR column we introduce innovative technologies supporting the energy transition. Our next blitz interview is with Liquid Wind, a Swedish power-to-fuel company which aims to reach financial close for its first facility in early 2021.
What is your product/solution?
Liquid Wind is a power-to-fuel development company committed to reducing carbon emissions. From Gothenburg, Sweden, the emerging company will develop, finance, build and manage commercial-scale eMethanol facilities.
Each facility combines leading technology to produce liquid carbon-neutral fuel. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is captured and concentrated from industry emissions. PEM electrolysers use renewable electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. A reactor then mixes and compresses the carbon dioxide and hydrogen, producing renewable methanol or eMethanol.
Liquid Wind have assembled an expert Consortium, including Siemens Energy, Haldor Topsoe, Carbon Clean and Axpo. Together they will integrate their cutting-edge technology and continuously optimise the process to ensure cost-competitive renewable fuel.
Accelerating access to eMethanol will help to meet growing demand for cleaner fuel and significantly reduce carbon emissions. Production and use of eMethanol is proven. The raw materials (electricity and carbon dioxide) are renewable and widely available, so eMethanol has the potential to reach a large scale. Set-up costs are lower than other renewable alternatives, as existing infrastructure for liquid fuel can largely be used.
Who are your clients?
eMethanol has been identified as a viable future fuel for long-distance ship and road transportation. As a liquid, it is easy for these industries to adopt eMethanol with only minor changes to engines and infrastructure. Liquid Wind is in detailed discussions with large container shipping companies regarding off-take agreements.
Liquid Wind will initially develop facilities in Scandinavia before expanding to North America and internationally. The company is planning to establish 500 facilities by 2050, preventing the emission of 50 megatons of carbon dioxide. This is an ambitious growth plan, but still a fraction of the total addressable market.
What are your priorities and goals for 2021?
Liquid Wind has come a long way with this essential project. In 2020, we finalised our expert Consortium, gained valuable funding from large investors and crowdfunders and secured the land and CO2 supply for the first facility in Sweden.
In 2021, Liquid Wind will focus on basic engineering and the commercial requirements to reach financial close for the first facility. They are already in detailed discussions with an off-taker and an investor for the facility. Liquid Wind plan to secure and sign these agreements to reach financial close in the first quarter of 2021. The first facility will be operational from 2024.
The company is also focused on building a strong, scalable business with a steady facility pipeline.
Liquid Wind is currently open for investment as part of their Series A funding round, for more information contact [email protected] or visit www.LiquidWind.se
Canadian residents can also invest in Liquid Wind’s crowdfunding round at https://www.frontfundr.com/liquidwind
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Wind turbines at sea. Author: Harvey Barrison. License: Creative Commons, Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic.
