Key Impact Points:
- The €150M Kasso facility will produce 42,000 tons of e-methanol annually using renewable energy and captured CO₂.
- Maersk will fuel its growing fleet of dual-fuel methanol ships with e-methanol from the plant, advancing zero-emission shipping.
- Danish companies including Novo Nordisk and Lego will use e-methanol to replace fossil methanol in plastics and production lines.
World’s First Commercial E-Methanol Plant Begins Operation in Denmark
The world’s first commercial-scale e-methanol plant has officially opened in Kasso, southern Denmark, marking a major milestone in low-emission fuel production. Built at a cost of €150 million ($167 million), the plant is a joint venture between Denmark’s European Energy and Japan’s Mitsui.
Maersk Leads the Shift to Green Shipping Fuel
Global shipping giant Maersk will be the primary customer of the Kasso facility. The company operates 13 dual-fuel methanol container ships—with another 13 on order—that can run on both traditional fuel oil and e-methanol.
“We expect that we will have a price parity with fossil methanol around 2035,” said Knud Erik Andersen, CEO of European Energy.
The plant’s annual production—42,000 metric tons or 53 million litres—is enough to power one large 16,000-container vessel sailing between Asia and Europe, according to Maersk. The Laura Maersk, the world’s first dual-fuel container ship, is set to be fueled near the Kasso plant and requires only 3,600 tons per year.
Clean Fuel for More Than Just Ships
Traditional methanol is made from fossil fuels, but the Kasso plant produces e-methanol using renewable electricity and CO₂ captured from biogas plants and waste incineration.
The fuel will not only decarbonize shipping but also help Danish manufacturers cut emissions. Novo Nordisk will use the green methanol for injection pens, and Lego will use it for plastic production.
Additionally, excess heat from the plant will provide heating for 3,300 local households, contributing to the area’s clean energy use.
Expansion Plans Already Underway
European Energy has announced plans to expand the Kasso facility and develop a pipeline of e-methanol plants in Europe, Australia, Brazil, and the U.S.
Maersk acknowledged the financial challenge of switching to sustainable fuels and said it continues to research green fuel technologies and more efficient shipping solutions to drive down costs.
“One of the biggest challenges of switching to sustainable fuel was cost,” Maersk said.
As the International Maritime Organization targets full decarbonization of the shipping industry by 2050, Denmark’s new facility marks a vital first step toward scaling green fuel infrastructure.
Maersk Reinforces Blue Economy Leadership Ahead of Nature Summit
As part of its growing commitment to the sustainable blue economy, Maersk is investing heavily in green maritime fuels, coastal resilience initiatives, and decarbonization across global shipping lanes.
Chairman of A.P. Møller-Mærsk Group, Robert Mærsk Uggla, will participate in the 2025 Nature Summit, the anchor event of UN Global Climate Week in Panama (May 19–22), to engage in high-level discussions on ocean finance, marine biodiversity, and low-carbon logistics.
The company’s leadership in adopting e-methanol, green corridors, and climate-resilient port infrastructure positions it as a key voice in ocean sustainability.
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Related Article: The Business Case for a Sustainable Blue Economy
