Ørsted breaks ground on pioneer e-methanol project in Sweden

Danish clean energy group Ørsted A/S (CPH:ORSTED) broke ground today on FlagshipONE, touted as Europe's largest e-methanol project, located in northern Sweden.

The project is expected start production in 2025, providing 50,000 tonnes of e-methanol a year for the shipping industry.

FlagshipONE will be constructed next to Ovik Energi’s combined heat and power plant Horneborgsverket in Ornskoldsvik. Siemens Energy, Carbon Clean, and Topsoe have been selected as suppliers for the electrolysers and control system, the carbon capture equipment, and the methanol synthesis equipment, respectively.

Initially developed by Swedish e-fuels company Liquid Wind, the project was subsequently acquired by Ørsted.

“FlagshipONE is a pioneering project that will open a new era for green shipping and for Ørsted,” stated Anders Nordstrom, COO of Ørsted P2X. The Danish company is also developing ambitious green fuel projects in the US and Denmark. It noted that at the moment, more than 110 e-methanol vessels have been ordered or are in operation, an increase from 80 at the end of 2022.

The announcement also highlighted Sweden’s potential to become a key market for e-methanol production, given its opportunities to develop onshore and offshore wind energy and its forest industry, which can supply the biogenic carbon needed to make e-methanol.

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