Danish green hydrogen methanol project creates its first drop-in gasoline

Green hydrogen-based methanol has been processed into synthetic gasoline at European Energy (EE) and Mitsui’s Kassø Power-to-X facility in Denmark.

As part of a German research initiative focused on low-carbon methanol-to-gasoline technology, 86 tonnes of e-methanol were upgraded to various gasoline grades.

EE said the process opens scaling potential for Kassø’s output of 42,000 tonnes-per-year of renewable fuel of non-biological origin (RFNBO) compliant e-methanol to be further refined for decarbonising existing vehicle fleets without modifications.

The 52MW plant started delivering e-methanol in using solar power from an adjacent 301MW solar park and CO2 from the nearby Tønder biogas facility.

René Alcaraz Frederiksen, Head of Power-to-X at the firm, said that e-methanol represents a key flexible intermediate that can be used across fuel pathways.

Synthetic gasoline is generally considered highly usable as a drop-in fuel in conventional petrol engines.

While reservations exist, they are generally more centred around ensuring consistent quality at scale and certification across different vehicle platforms.

Many e-gasolines are expected to enter the market first as blends with conventional petrol before wider adoption as pure synthetic drop-ins.

The Kassø plant recently required of an undisclosed figure to continue operating while a joint venture between EE and Mitsui raised long-term project funding.

It has already secured e-methanol offtakers, including ship operator AP Moller – Maersk, pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk, and toy manufacturer Lego Group.