Ørsted has begun developing the e-methanol production facility located in the Swedish Örnsköldsvik (sited on the grounds of the biomass-fired combined heat and power plant Hörneborgsverket, operated by Övik Energi).
FlagshipONE is set to come online in 2025, delivering 50kt/year of e-methanol for the shipping industry.
Siemens Energy, Carbon Clean and Topsoe also broke the ground: the companies will deliver the electrolysers and control system, the carbon capture equipment, and the methanol synthesis equipment, respectively.
The e-methanol from FlagshipONE will be produced using renewable electricity and biogenic CO2 captured from Hörneborgsverket. In addition, FlagshipONE will use steam, process water, and cooling water from Hörneborgsverket, and excess heat from the e-methanol production process will be delivered back to Övik Energi and integrated into their district heating supply.
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency has supported FlagshipONE with SEK151m (about €13.1m) through its Klimatklivet initiative.
"The event in Örnsköldsvik focused on the need to decarbonise global maritime transport and on the large potential for Sweden to become a key market for the production of e-methanol, which is emerging as shipping's preferred route to zero emissions in the 2020s. Sweden has ample opportunity to develop renewable energy, like onshore and offshore wind, and has a world-leading forest industry to supply the biogenic carbon needed to produce e-methanol. Örnsköldsvik is one of the centres of the Swedish forest industry, having a large commercial presence from advanced forest-based industries," Ørsted highlighted in a press release.
According to the company, over 110 e-methanol vessels are on order or already operational, up from 80 at the end of 2022.
Anders Nordstrøm, COO of Ørsted P2X, said, "FlagshipONE is a pioneering project that will open a new era for green shipping and for Ørsted. I'm very pleased that we've now started on-site construction together with other green fuel leaders from across the supply chain, and together with representatives from Örnsköldsvik, Västernorrlands Län and Sweden at large. FlagshipONE will be the first project in a new green industry in Sweden, which Ørsted intends to spearhead."
His company also develops the 300kt/year Project Star in the US Gulf Coast and the Green Fuels for Denmark e-methanol projects.
Claes Fredriksson, CEO and Founder of Liquid Wind (the enterprise that originally developed FlagshipONE), also commented, "FlagshipONE will soon become the largest commercial-scale electrofuel facility in Europe and at Liquid Wind we are thrilled that Ørsted is now starting the construction phase of the project. FlagshipONE is our first sold project and is just the beginning of our journey to become the leading developer of electrofuel facilities. This milestone will hopefully inspire many others to also contribute to the decarbonisation of shipping. Today is a historical day for Sweden as we put the country on the map as a developer and producer of green electrofuel. All with the intent of reducing the world's dependence on fossil fuels."
Kristina Säfsten, CEO of Övik Energi, added, "Today, we celebrate a long-awaited milestone towards finally seeing FlagshipONE take shape adjacent to our power plant. Through Ørsted and the new e-methanol facility, we've gained a significant new industrial customer at the High Coast Innovation Park while at the same achieving a reduced carbon footprint. We welcome Ørsted to Örnsköldsvik and look forward to the realisation of this important green initiative."
Photo: Liquid Wind