Unlocking e-methanol production with SOEC electrolysis

Pairing Topsoe's SOEC technology with e-methanol production at Forestal del Atlántico's Triskelion Project.

Project highlights

Located in Galicia, Spain, Forestal del Atlántico is developing the most advanced e-methanol project in Europe – the Triskelion project. Combining CO2 capture electrolysis and methanol production, the Triskelion project is set to produce 40,000 tons of e- methanol annually and consequently absorb 56.000tn of CO2 a year. This will allow the direct replacement of grey methanol in Forestal del Atlántico’s productions of sustainable glue and resin manufacturing – an exemplary case a company working in heavy industry taking groundbreaking measures to decarbonize its own operations.

The production of methanol will be ready by 2027 and once in full operation, it will expectedly enable an annual emission avoidance of app. 860,000 tons of CO2e – the equivalent of avoiding the emissions of approximately 200.000 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles driven for a year. The CO2 for this project is captured by using amines, while the H2 is obtained by splitting water with renewable electricity. These inputs are combined in a reactor to produce methanol, which is then extracted and can be used as a sustainable fuel or chemical feedstock. The e-methanol produced from the Triskelion project is expected to be crucial for bunkering, transportation, and the wider chemical industry.

Facts about the Triskelion e-Methanol plant

The plant has received a EUR 49m grant from the European Union Emissions Trading System’s Innovation Fund in 2023.
The plant is designed to produce 40,000 tons of e-Methanol and will capture and use c. 56,000 tons of CO2 each year to produce the e-Methanol.
The project is powered by renewable sources through Power Purchased Agreements (PPAs), ensuring renewable and continuous power supply during the 8,000 hours/year of operation.
Anticipated entry into operation: January 2028.

Key facts

Client:  Forestal del Atlántico

Solutions: ModuLite e-Methanol loop, SOEC electrolysis plant, catalyst package, 10-year service package

ModuLite nominal capacity: 156 MTPD

SOEC plant size: 55MW

Impact: Avoid 860,000 tons of CO2 emissions

Topsoe's role

Topsoe will be providing a 156 MTD eMethanol ModuLite plant to the Triskelion project, complete with a full catalyst package, and a 55MW SOEC electrolyzer backed by a 10-year Service Warranty Program. With the Triskelion project, Topsoe delivers a fully integrated solution that will help Forestal del Atlántico achieve their decarbonization goals for the project.

In addition to Topsoe’s SOEC electrolysis and modular e-methanol plant technology, we are providing full engineering support and a 10-year service guarantee through our Service Warranty Program. Topsoe’s SWP not only ensures predictable electrolysis performance, minimizes operational risk and delivers full-lifecycle support, it guarantees conversion. When choosing technologies that are newer in the market such as SOEC, taking full performance responsibility by the supplier can make early-adoption easier and safer, which is essential in ensuring the wide adoption of technologies that are crucial to the energy transition.

A trusted methanol provider

As a provider of methanol production technologies, Topsoe has over 50 years of experience and is one of the world’s leading technology partners in this category. In fact, over 30% of global methanol output is produced using Topsoe technology or catalysts – making Topsoe the choice partner for the world’s leading producers and a natural choice of provider for Forestal.

By using Topsoe’s dynamic e-Methanol loop which consumes hydrogen directly as the electrolyzer produces it and adapts to fluctuations in hydrogen supply, the Triskelion project with be able to sustain production even at low loads, reducing the risk of forced restarts and eliminating the need for costly hydrogen storage. This adaptivity, paired with the industry leading efficiency of Topsoe’s high- temperature SOEC electrolysis technology, creates an overall technology solution that maximizes Forestal’s green energy investment and e-methanol production.

CEO at Forestal del Atlántico

Andrés Fuentes:

“At Forestal del Atlántico we actively search for partners that can match us in innovation and vision, and working with Topsoe as one of the few leading technology suppliers that can offer end-to-end Power-to-X solutions matched this forward-thinking drive completely.

Selecting Topsoe guaranteed us at the highest level that we can achieve our decarbonization goals. These business decisions – founded on trust, a drive for excellence and a deep commitment to decarbonization – are the foundation of a successful energy transition.”

The essential role of service

Head of Service Products at Topsoe

Anders Noer:

“Service is what transforms and accelerates new technologies into sustainable solutions that can truly scale. This agreement with Forestal shows how integrating service and technology unlocks reliability, uptime, and long-term value. We are grateful for the trust Forestal has placed in us, both in our technologies and in our services, and we look forward to building this partnership for the future."

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