As the plans look now, Esbjerg will house two PtX plants, each of which will be Europe’s largest, says Esbjerg Municipality’s Mayor Jesper Frost Rasmussen.
At the beginning of the year, it was announced that Europe’s largest PtX plant was on its way to Esbjerg. Now another company is joining the fray. The energy company H2 Energy Europe has bought a large plot of land in Veldbæk near Esbjerg on 11 hectares. Again, this is a Power-to-X plant and again the plant surpasses previous establishments in Europe, but where the existing plans are for an ammonia plant, the new plant will focus on hydrogen.
H2 Energy Europe will convert electricity from offshore wind turbines into hydrogen that can be used for heavy land transport. The company estimates that the establishment of the hydrogen ecosystem and the entire supply chain will create between 200-300 new, permanent jobs when the plant is scheduled to begin production in 2024.
This is the plan from the Swiss energy company, which will invest a large billion in the PtX plant in the eastern part of Esbjerg, which will be the largest plant of its kind in Europe.
“In Esbjerg, there are the optimal conditions in relation to Power-to-X and hydrogen production. First and foremost, there is a geographical advantage due to its location in relation to the North Sea offshore wind, just as the area is also well located in relation to export opportunities to large industrial areas in Germany and Northern Europe, where a large part of production is expected to be based on hydrogen in the future. The construction of a hydrogen plant of that magnitude fits in perfectly with Denmark’s PtX strategy and we look forward to being part of that strategy by creating a green ecosystem in Denmark. There are various obstacles that must be overcome to ensure the conversion to hydrogen trucks, including an accelerated construction of the pipeline, but in close cooperation with the Danish government, we believe that it is possible to implement,
Minister of Climate, Energy and Supply Dan Jørgensen welcomes H2 Energy Europe to Denmark: ”The announcement from H2 Energy Europe helps to write the new chapter in the history of Esbjerg as a business center. From fishing and oil objection, Esbjerg is rapidly moving towards a future that helps to underline Denmark as a green superpower. New green fuels and hydrogen are crucial for the green society of the future – not only in Denmark, but also in Europe and around the world. The technology contains great opportunities for both the climate and the business community, and here Esbjerg is helping to bring Denmark to the forefront, ”says Dan Jørgensen.
“We want to produce tomorrow’s fuel. It is our goal to create a cost-effective production and distribution of green, climate-friendly hydrogen, which is produced exclusively with renewable energy and is CO2-free. We see green hydrogen as the key to a meaningful and efficient transition from fossil fuels to emission-free fuel cell electromobility, ”says the H2 Energy Director further about the visions for the project.
In the same way that Denmark helped to build a framework for the wind industry to be successful on a large scale, the same could happen for the spread of the hydrogen truck.
Strong and experienced PtX player
H2 Energy Europe is an experienced player on the Power-to-X front, as the company already produces green hydrogen in Switzerland and has 50 hydrogen trucks on the roads, while a further 1,600 are expected to be delivered within the next five years. In addition, the company has a network of hydrogen filling stations in collaboration with major players such as Hyundai, Alpiq and Linde. It is also part of the plan that hydrogen trucks and hydrogen filling stations will be part of H2 Energy Europe’s hydrogen-based ecosystem in Denmark.
“In the long run, the introduction of hydrogen trucks will help Denmark achieve its climate goals. We have a two-tiered plan, which includes an immediate focus on producing green hydrogen on a smaller scale by the end of 2022, so that the first hydrogen trucks can be on Danish roads. This is followed by a potential implementation on a massive scale from 2024, where the expected 1GW plant can be fully operational, ”says Clifford zur Nieden, director of H2 Energy Europe.
Steen Hommel, director of the Trade Council and Global Sustainability, which is anchored in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is pleased with the prospect of another major Power-to-X project in Esbjerg and Denmark.
“Denmark’s green political ambitions, a stable political climate and a well-functioning public administration mean that we are an attractive country for sustainable energy investments. It is a great pleasure to see that our close collaboration with H2 Energy and Esbjerg Municipality has resulted in the plans to establish a large Power-to-X project in Esbjerg. Invest in Denmark works purposefully to attract foreign investments to Power-to-X projects in Denmark for the benefit of Danish growth and job creation, ”says Steen Hommel.
Strengthens Esbjerg’s position in the green transition
In Esbjerg, the news brings great joy to Mayor Jesper Frost Rasmussen. He sees H2 Energy Europe’s plans as an example of the city taking the lead in the green transition and pushing for the general development within new green energy solutions , because the transport area is not only a local problem, but very much one of the biggest challenges in international level.
“Esbjerg is becoming the example to Europe and the world of the green transition. Now, two major international players have chosen Esbjerg, and this is partly due to the fact that for more than a decade, we have been a leader in Europe and the whole world in terms of shipping offshore wind turbines. Esbjerg is well on its way to becoming a center for green energy, which helps to strengthen Esbjerg’s position as a dynamo for the green transition ”, says Jesper Frost Rasmussen, Mayor of Esbjerg Municipality.
Also at Southwest Jutland’s largest business organization, Business Esbjerg, the enthusiasm is palpable. Here, in close and good cooperation with Invest in Denmark, which has been a crucial partner, we have worked purposefully to get the agreement with H2 Energy Europe in place.
“This is fantastic news and shows that the green development is happening here and now in southwest Jutland, where we have optimal conditions to take the lead. Large concrete projects like this make a huge difference in relation to the climate goals and the green transition. At the same time, it shows that we have the prerequisites to be a very attractive area for investors looking for green investments, ”says Business Esbjerg Director Susanne Nordenbæk.
About H2 Energy
H2 Energy was established in 2014 in Zurich, Switzerland, with the vision to play an active role in fighting climate change. The company wants to make hydrogen from renewable energy a cornerstone of the energy system by expanding the entire value chain across production, distribution and consumption in a sustainable and economic way. H2 Energy is involved in the entire hydrogen value chain, offering know-how and engineering each step of the way. The company draws on many years of experience, particularly in creating hydrogen production plants, establishing hydrogen refueling stations and in the engineering of hydrogen fuel cell applications.
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