Ørsted takes the final investment decision to build Europe’s largest production facility, FlagshipONE, for green fuel for the shipping industry. Topsoe will provide engineering, procurement and fabrication for the project’s eMethanol technology. FlagshipONE will be built in Örnsköldsvik in Northern Sweden and is expected to be in operation in 2025. The facility will produce approximately 50,000 tpy of eMethanol from renewable energy and biogenic CO₂. 50,000 tons of eMethanol can fuel one large ocean-going vessel or several ferries.

Sundus Cordelia Ramli, member of Liquid Wind’s Board of Directors and CCO for Power-to-X at Topsoe, said, “The shipping industry is one of the single biggest emitters of CO₂ accounting for 3% globally. It makes us proud to be part of this consortium that brings together very capable players to actively bring down this figure. We look forward to bringing our tried and tested methanol technology into this innovative context and to support decarbonization of the shipping industry alongside Ørsted, a leader in renewable energy.”

Anders Nordstrøm, COO at Ørsted P2X, said, “Ørsted is determined to lead the green transformation of society, and that’s exactly what we’re doing by constructing a project like FlagshipONE. We believe that e-methanol will play a key role in bringing down the carbon emissions from the maritime industry, and alongside key partners like Topsoe, we’re working hard to make that vision come true.”

According to IEA’s Net Zero-scenario for 2050, the shipping industry needs to reduce its emissions by almost 15% from 2021 to 2030. The agency points toward both technological innovation, supportive policies, and collaboration across the value chain to develop and deploy low-carbon fuels in the industry.

FlagshipONE will capture biogenic carbon dioxide and combine this with H₂ made from renewable electricity and water, to produce renewable methanol, or eMethanol. This versatile, liquid fuel is carbon neutral and easy to store, transport and use, and the production from FlagshipONE will go to the marine sector.