Groundbreaking eMethanol Production

With Topsoe modular eMethanol solutions

Project Highlights

FlagshipONE is a groundbreaking project situated in Örnskjoldvik in Northern Sweden. FlagshipONE is Ørsted's first commercial-scale Power-to-X facility and is set to be the largest green eMethanol facility in Europe. Initially developed by LiquidWind AB and then acquired by Ørsted, this project will combine Siemen's electrolysis technology and Topsoe's ModuLite eMethanol loop, Carbon Clean's carbon capture units and Alfa Laval's heat exchanger to produce and estimated 50,000 tonnes of eMethanol a year.

 This project marks an exciting new commitment to scaling up green fuel production and investing in energy alternatives that can offer clean transitions across industries. Green eMethanol is a versatile, liquid fuel that is also carbon neutral and easy to store, transport and use. The process of upcycling waste carbon dioxide for use as a renewable fuel to replace fossil fuels can prevent the emission of new carbon dioxide — providing new opportunities in powering our industries while actively cleaning up the waste they currently produce.

Key Facts

Client(s): Ørsted

Technology: eMethanol ModuLite

Capacity: 50,000 tonnes/year of eMethanol

Impact: Renewable methanol can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 95% for CO2 and up to 80% for NOX.

Topsoe's Role

As one of Ørsted’s key technological partners, Topsoe will be supplying the FlagshipONE project with our eMethanol ModuLite™ technology to enable the synthesis of green hydrogen and biogenic carbon dioxide. Intended for use in Power-to-X applications, Topsoe’s ModuLite™ systems are complete plants built from prefabricated, truckable modules that enable rapid deployment and less work-onsite – a particularly important advantage on remote sites such as FlagshipONE.

Topsoe_Icon_RGB_ ModuLite Solutions Ammonia

Proven
eMethanol
technology

Topsoe_Icon_RGB_Renewable Energy

Modular
for fast
deployment

Topsoe_Icon_RGB_Helmet

Over
40 years
experience

Topsoe_Icon_RGB_Clean Fuels & Chemicals Catalyst

High
Performance
Catalyst

Topsoe’s eMethanol loop functions as a flexible system that consumes hydrogen directly from the electrolyzer as it's being produced. This capability to adjust to changes in hydrogen availability and maintain production even at low capacities mitigates the risk of unexpected shutdowns and eliminates the necessity for expensive hydrogen storage.

While this loop is designed for use with green hydrogen, it's a well-established technology with a track record spanning over 40 years. With more than 50 installations globally, Topsoe's methanol loops have earned recognition across the industry. They facilitate streamlined and efficient processes, operating at minimal costs, leaving minimal environmental impact, and ensuring rapid market entry.

One notable advantage of Topsoe loops is it’s pairing with Topsoe catalysts. We've supplied numerous charges of methanol-synthesis catalysts over the years. In the FlagshipONE plant, the loop utilizes Topsoe’s MK-417 SUSTAIN™ catalyst, specifically engineered for synthesizing methanol from green hydrogen and biogenic CO2, highlighting Topsoe and Ørsted’s combined commitment to sustainable methanol production.

Finally, this is all coupled with Topsoe’s modularized plant solution: ModuLite. This pre-fabricated plant design provides a solution for decarbonized or ultra-low-carbon production at scalable volume, enabling standardized setup, processes and optimized efficiency. Its reliable, pre-designed concept guarantees fixed up-front CAPEX, and shortens a project’s time to market by minimizing site-specific engineering and construction requirements.

The drive towards eMethanol

The International Energy Agency emphasizes the urgent need for swift adoption of low-emission fuels to hasten the reduction of carbon emissions in the transportation sector. E-fuels, as described by the Agency, represent a practical route towards decarbonization, with significant expansion projected by 20301. This push to enlarge the e-fuel industry lays the groundwork for substantial growth in the e-methanol market.

Green eMethanol is a versatile, low-carbon, liquid fuel that is also easy to store, transport and use. While it has potential across numerous industries, Møller, believes the global shipping industry will be one of the earliest adopters to harness eMethanol’s power. “Currently there are more than 200 ships in operation or on order that are dual-fuel– and 41% of the vessels on order are from contracts made in the first half of 2023, meaning that the demand is increasing sharply.”

According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), e-methanol boasts adaptability for various applications as well, including internal combustion engines, hybrid vehicles, and fuel cell technologies. Its liquid state at normal temperatures and pressures simplifies storage, transportation, and distribution, making it compatible with existing infrastructure and suitable for blending with traditional fuels. Ultimately, e-methanol offers diverse avenues for decarbonization across multiple sectors. It can seamlessly replace conventional methanol in industrial chemical processes, serve as a sustainable source for aviation fuel production through MeOH-to-jet conversion methods, and function as an alternative fuel in industrial transportation, particularly in global shipping operations.

EC-crop

Backed by the EU Catalyst Partnership

LEARN MORE

A central tenant of the energy transition is that in order for the industry to collectively achieve net-zero by 2050, it will not only have to embrace new technologies, but it will also have to explore new partnerships and ways of working. Last year at COP28, Orsted announced that the EU-Catalyst Partnership, a collaboration consisting of the European Commission, Breakthrough Energy Catalyst, and the European Investment Bank has pledged public support for the FlagshipONE project.

This showing of showing of support from such innovative organizations, including Breakthrough Energy founded by Bill Gates, is a demonstrable achievement in pushing the necessity of e-fuels and zero carbon alternatives in the energy transition. Mads Nipper, Group President, and CEO of Ørsted, summarizes this achievement with the following:

“We're extremely proud to partner with three of the most forward-thinking and ambitious leaders in the green transformation, highlighting that FlagshipONE is truly a breakthrough project. Ørsted’s history of scaling technologies from first-of-a-kind to widespread adoption – often with support from EIB – gives us confidence that, together with Breakthrough Energy Catalyst, the European Commission, and EIB, we can apply that hard-won experience to delivering the maturation of the European P2X industry.”

Watch the video with Claes Fredriksson, CEO and Founder of Liquid Wind, a leading developer of commercial scale electrofuel facilities. Claes shares his expert insights on the transformative role of e-methanol in decarbonizing shipping and what it means for the future of global trade and the energy transition.