Orsted abandons flagship e-methanol project
Danish firm takes $220m hit as it halts Europe’s largest project in setback for transition to green shipping fuels
Danish renewable energy company Orsted has halted construction of Europe’s largest synthetic methanol production project, citing the slower-than-expected development of Europe’s green fuels markets. The FlagshipONE project, based at Ornskoldsvik in northern Sweden, had been scheduled to start up in 2025, with initial output of 55,000t/yr of e-methanol produced from electrolytic hydrogen and biogenic CO₂. Orsted’s decision to abandon the project more than a year into its construction has resulted in it booking a DKK1.5bn ($220m) impairment loss. “The liquid e-fuel market in Europe is developing slower than expected, and we have taken the strategic decision to de-prioritise our efforts within
Also in this section
20 September 2024
Government takes first step towards becoming a global low-carbon hydrogen exporter
19 September 2024
Rollout of refuelling stations gathers pace in Asia but stalls in North American and Europe, say Hydrogen Council and McKinsey
18 September 2024
Greater regulatory clarity and support for demand will be critical for tackling project delays over next two years, say Hydrogen Council and McKinsey
18 September 2024
As part of Petroleum Economist's 90th anniversary special coverage, we look at how hydrogen has emerged from relative obscurity to become a key player in the transition to net zero