Maersk welcomes new European source of e-methanol

The world’s first commercial-scale e-methanol plant began operations in Denmark yesterday, with Maersk set to buy part of the production.

The Kassø e-methanol facility in Aabenraa, Denmark, developed by European Energy and operated in collaboration with Mitsui & Co, has an annual production capacity of 42,000 tonnes and operates entirely on renewable energy sources.

Situated next to Northern Europe’s largest solar park—the 304 MW Kassø Solar Park—the facility integrates large-scale renewable power generation with carbon capture and utilisation. 

Rabab Raafat Boulos, chief operating officer at A.P. Moller – Maersk, said: “We are excited to receive the first e-methanol from the Kassø facility, marking an important milestone in our global efforts to source alternative fuels for our vessel fleet. The future of shipping must include multiple fuel types operating alongside each other, with methanol playing a key role in the industry’s net-zero ambitions.”

The Laura Maersk, the Danish’s owner’s first methanol dual-fuelled ship, is taking fuel from the new plant this week.