Developer and joint venture partner
About Kassø
The world’s first large-scale e-methanol facility
Sectors like shipping, aviation, and chemicals must become CO₂ neutral. The challenge is that direct electrification isn’t feasible in these industries—but now, there are scalable alternatives.
Kassø, the world’s first large-scale e-methanol production site, turns renewable energy, water, and CO₂ into a green fuel and chemical. This innovation offers a viable path for industries that can’t plug in to reduce their carbon footprint, helping companies and Europe realise net-zero targets.
Read more about e-methanol.
Project timeline
The progression of Kassø e-methanol facility
May 2025
Official opening of Kassø e-methanol facility
The facility officially opens its doors to guests in mid-May 2025. The opening marks a milestone for European energy independence and international targets to realise net-zero goals.
March 2025
First drops of raw methanol
On March 12th 2025, we successfully produced the first raw e-methanol. It was produced in the first methanol line out of two at the facility and was achieved using biogenic CO₂ sourced locally at the biogas facility in Tønder.
January 2025
First hydrogen at Kassø
In January 2025, the Siemens Energy eletrolysers produced their first green hydrogen. In February, we achieved the first high-pressure hydrogen, and the countdown to the first drops of e-methanol officially began.
December 2024
Kassø e-methanol facility is connected to the grid
After completing construction work, the facility received the last permit to connect to the grid, enabling us to begin testing, making sure the plant is ready for operation.
June 2024
Mechanical completion of first production line
A little over a year after breaking ground, we marked the mechanical completion of the first of two methanol production lines at Kassø. On the same occasion, European Energy and Mitsui & Co. signed a balancing and optimisation agreement with Danske Commodities.
November 2023
‘Topping-out’ ceremony marks an important milestone for the construction of Kassø e-methanol facility
Six months after the groundbreaking ceremony, European Energy and Mitsui celebrate the topping-out ceremony at the Kassø e-methanol facility. The day marked the completion of the main construction and the erection of the plant’s highest point — the 30-metre distillation tower. In the distillation tower, the e-methanol is purified from water to achieve a purity level of 99.9%, so it can be used in combustion engines and in plastic production.
September 2023
Mitsui & Co. joins as co-owners of Kassø Solar Park and Kassø e-methanol facility
European Energy and Mitsui & Co. enters into a partnership to further develop the solar park and e-methanol plant at Kassø under its joint venture, Solar Park Kassø ApS (European Energy 51%, Mitsui 49%).
May 2023
Inauguration of Kassø Solar Park and groundbreaking for Kassø e-methanol facility
On 16 May 2023, European Energy celebrates the official inauguration of the Kassø Solar Park and the groundbreaking ceremony for the connected e-methanol facility. The event marks the beginning of the construction of the world’s first large-scale e-methanol plant.
April 2023
Agreements with Novo Nordisk and the LEGO Group to replace fossil-based materials in plastics production
Offtake agreements with Novo Nordisk and the LEGO Group to replace fossil-based materials in plastics production with e-methanol.
December 2022
Deal with Aabenraa District Heating to supply surplus heat to the municipality from the plant
E-methanol production creates surplus heat that can be redistributed to provide climate-friendly and low-cost heat to citizens in the local area. The Kassø e-methanol facility will heat approximately 3,300 households in Aabenraa Municipality.
August 2022
European Energy enters agreement with Tønder Biogas to purchase biogenic CO₂
To ensure the most sustainable product possible, European Energy agrees with Tønder Biogas for the supply of 60,000 tonnes of biogenic CO₂ to be used in the production of e-methanol at Kassø. The biogenic CO₂ is derived from organic material since the biogas is produced from agricultural waste. Ammongas will handle the liquefaction.
July 2022
European Energy acquires majority share in Ammongas
Ammongas is a biogas upgrading company which can supply liquefied biogenic CO₂ to produce e-methanol. They have delivered the carbon capture facility for the CO₂ used in Kassø.
June 2022
European Energy connects Northern Europe’s largest solar park to the grid in Kassø
After one year of construction work, Kassø Solar Park is connected to the grid in Southern Denmark. The 304 MW solar park supplies much of the green electricity for Kassø e-methanol facility, which is supplemented with electricity from the public grid.
March 2022
European Energy orders 52 MW electrolysers from Siemens for e-methanol production in Kassø
The system comprises three electrolysis units with a combined capacity of 52 MW, which split water into oxygen and hydrogen. The plant will produce around 6,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually, which is mixed with biogenic CO₂ to produce e-methanol.
January 2022
European Energy decides to build the world’s largest e-methanol plant in Kassø, Denmark
European Energy takes the final decision on where to build its first e-methanol plant—close to Kassø Solar Park. When it starts operation in 2025, it will be the world’s largest plant of its kind, with a capacity to produce up to 42,000 tonnes of e-methanol annually.
August 2021
Agreement to supply e-methanol to Maersk’s first dual fuel methanol vessel
European Energy enters into first agreement with Maersk to supply e-methanol for the world’s first container ship fuelled by methanol. The agreement advances the realisation of the world’s first large-scale e-methanol plant in Kassø and marks a defining milestone in the efforts to decarbonise shipping. Just two years later, Laura Mærsk celebrates her name giving in Copenhagen’s harbour, before beginning her operation in the Baltic Sea.
Joint venture partner
FAQs about Kassø e-methanol facility
What is e-methanol?
E-methanol is the same product as methanol (wood alcohol), which is already used as a fuel in combustion engines and as a raw material in the chemical industry. Today, more than 100 million tonnes of methanol are produced annually using natural gas and coal. E-methanol, however, is a green alternative because it is produced using renewable energy and biogenic CO₂ captured from e.g. biogas plants and waste incineration.
What are the use cases for e-methanol?
E-methanol can be used in a range of different products and materials. It serves as a feedstock in the chemical industry, where it can be used to produce plastic by replacing fossil-based raw materials. Additionally, e-methanol can replace conventional heavy fuels and reduce emissions. In the shipping sector, it is used as a low-carbon marine fuel, helping to decarbonise maritime transport. Furthermore, e-methanol plays a role in sustainable aviation fuel (e-SAF) production, contributing to the transition towards greener air travel by helping to lower reliance on fossil-based jet fuels.
What will the e-methanol from Kassø be used for?
The facility will supply e-methanol to offtakers in three different sectors, including Maersk, Novo Nordisk and the LEGO Group, and will allow them to replace materials that would otherwise result in higher emissions of fossil greenhouse gases. Maersk will use the e-methanol as fuel for their first vessel that can operate on alternative fuels. The LEGO Group will use e-methanol to make its robust, rigid plastic elements in its portfolio such as their axles. Novo Nordisk takes a step towards substituting fossil-based plastic with lower-carbon sources to be used in medical devices such as insulin pens.
Furthermore, the facility will produce excess heat that will be utilised to provide district heating for around 3,300 local households.
How much e-methanol can the Kassø facility produce?
Kassø e-methanol facility has the capacity to produce up to 42,000 tonnes of e-methanol for its offtakers per year.
How does the e-methanol facility get electricity for the electrolysis process?
The plant will source approximately 50% of its electricity demands from the neighboring 304 MW Kassø Solar Park. The remaining 50% is supplied from the grid via a balancing agreement with Danske Commodities.
How many MW is the electrolyser?
The Kassø e-methanol facility uses electrolysis units of a total of 52 MW from Siemens Energy. European Energy has also won the Danish Power-to-X tender, which includes plans to expand Kassø to 60 MW.
Who is the owner of Kassø e-methanol facility?
Both the e-methanol facility and the 304 MW solar park in Kassø are owned by the joint venture company Solar Park Kassø ApS (“SPK”). SPK is co-owned by European Energy (51%) and the Japanese trading and investment company Mitsui & Co. (49%).
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Emil Vikjær-Andresen
Rene Alcaraz Frederiksen
Toshikazu Yamazaki
CFO, Solar Park Kassø ApS
