Uniper has selected Liquid Wind to develop its 100,000-tonne green hydrogen-based e-methanol project in Sweden.
The German energy firm announced the NorthStarH2 project in Östersund in February and aims to produce low-carbon methanol to replace fossil fuels in shipping and the chemical industry.
Planned to combine biogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) and green hydrogen to produce e-methanol, Liquid Wind now named as developer of the project, intends to apply its project methodology for standardised design.
Earlier this year, Uniper and Liquid Wind signed a strategic partnership agreement to accelerate the development of e-methanol plants by reducing costs and risks, as well as developing supply chains.
Jan Taschenberger, Chief Operating Officer (COO) New Green Power and Gas at Uniper, said the project played a “pivotal role” in its energy transition plans.
“With this innovative project for the production of green methanol, we are breaking new ground with Liquid Wind – both in terms of technology and in the way we collaborate.
“We believe that only through a new partnership-driven approach can visionary projects like this succeed,” he said.
Liquid Wind founder and CEO, Claes Fredriksson, said NorthStarH2 showed “That e-fuel will play a crucial role in electrifying numerous sectors such as shipping, aviation and chemical industries.”
It comes after Liquid Wind’s inaugural e-fuel project, FlagshipONE, was stopped by Ørsted after it took control of the development in 2022.
Read more: Ørsted shelves Swedish e-fuels project but reaffirms commitment to hydrogen
Despite Ørsted blaming a lack of offtake demand for the decision, Fredriksson, exclusively told H2 View the move wouldn’t impact its plans to develop 10 projects in the Nordics by 2030, and it was exploring options to keep FlagshipONE alive.
Read more:We want to keep hydrogen e-fuels project FlagshipONE alive, says original developer
Remaining certain that buyers are there for e-methanol, he said, “Fuel can be made, fuel can be consumed, but the price points and the willingness to pay more, is still limited. People are not willingly paying two or two and a half times the cost of fossil fuel.”
Get up to speed on hydrogen with Class of H2
At a time when hydrogen is the new gold rush for so many investors and start-ups alike, and the skills gap risks becoming the skills gulf, H2 View’s Class of H2 presents a series of hydrogen training modules.
Our first masterclass is created to bring your hydrogen fundamentals up-to-speed, covering the basics, e-fuels and ammonia, low-carbon and green hydrogen production, turquoise hydrogen production, biomass pathways, and underground hydrogen storage.
To book your on-demand training session, click here. Or you can reach out to the Class of H2 team at +44 1872 225031 or [email protected].
