(Aabenraa, Denmark) – Gasoline made from renewable methanol (eMethanol) has been produced for the first time at the Kassø Solar Park. The power-to-X plant in Aabenraa, a joint venture between European Energy A/S and Mitsui & Co., Ltd., is reportedly "one of the first commercial plants of its kind." It produces certified eMethanol with green hydrogen, combined with stored biogenic CO2. Customers for the annual production capacity of approximately 42.000 tons include industry, shipping, and the chemical and fuel sectors.
Pilot plant of the Freiberg Mining Academy
As part of the "DeCar-Trans" research project, 86 tons of eMethanol from Kassø were processed in the pilot plant of the TU Bergakademie Freiberg (TUBAF). The methanol was converted into synthetic gasoline using a process called "Methafuel," developed by CAC Engineering GmbH and TUBAF. The Lother Group (NORDOEL) and the eFUEL Group then refined the product into various gasoline grades.
The conversion demonstrates that renewable methanol can be refined into RFNBO-compliant fuels that can be used with existing vehicles. No modifications to engines or distribution systems are necessary. Kassø supports the further processing into fuels "compatible with the existing infrastructure," says René Alcaraz Frederiksen, Head of Power-to-X at European Energy.
“E-methanol creates an industrial bridge between renewable energy production and market-ready liquid fuels,” said Hanspeter Tiede, CFO of Lother GmbH. The produced gasoline can be used as a drop-in fuel with existing infrastructure and the current vehicle fleet without any technical modifications. “DeCar-Trans” is being funded by the German Federal Ministry of Transport with nearly €15 million as part of the renewable fuels program.
Photo above
The pilot plant in Kassø produces RFNBO-certified e-methanol using green hydrogen. © European Energy A/S
