Kassø commercial-scale e-methanol plant has officially launched in Denmark and is now supplying e-methanol to offtakers including A.P. Moller-Maersk, the LEGO Group, and Novo Nordisk. Developed by European Energy and operated in collaboration with Mitsui & Co., the facility is owned by Solar Park Kassø ApS under Kassø MidCo ApS, with European Energy A/S holding a 51% stake and Mitsui & Co. 49%.
The Kassø facility said it is the first of its kind globally to produce e-methanol at commercial scale with an annual production capacity of 42,000 tons. It operates entirely on renewable energy sources.
The plant combines biogenic CO2 with green hydrogen produced on-site, manufacturing e-methanol with up to a 97% reduced carbon footprint compared to fossil-based products. The facility is next to Northern Europe’s largest solar park—the 304 MW Kassø Solar Park–and integrates large-scale renewable power generation with carbon capture and utilization.
“The start of operations at Kassø marks a major step forward in bringing Power-to-X technologies into real-world use. This is renewable energy in action, transforming how we use electricity,” said Knud Erik Andersen, CEO of European Energy.
The project is designed to support the direct decarbonization of sectors that are otherwise difficult to electrify. Maersk will use e-methanol produced at Kassø to fuel Laura Mærsk, the world’s first container vessel capable of operating on methanol.
E-methanol from the facility will also be used in industrial processes where fossil-based methanol has traditionally been standard. One such application is in plastics, where manufacturers aim to adopt more sustainable materials while maintaining safety and quality standards. The LEGO Group and Novo Nordisk are also offtakers of e-methanol from Kassø, using it to replace fossil methanol in the production of selected products.
“Sourcing renewable e-methanol is part of our ambition to make LEGO products more sustainable and reduce carbon emissions,” said Carsten Rasmussen, Chief Operations Officer at the LEGO Group. “Later this year, we will use the material to produce select LEGO elements—such as cross axles and connectors—while maintaining our high standards of safety, durability, and quality. This partnership is a powerful example of how collaboration and innovation across industries can accelerate meaningful progress.”
Mitsui & Co. has contributed strategic expertise and global reach to support the facility’s long-term development and operation. The collaboration between European Energy and Mitsui reflects a shared ambition to accelerate commercial pathways for Power-to-X technologies and expand the use of low-emission alternatives in hard-to-abate sectors globally.
“We are honoured to play a pivotal role in advancing this pioneering project, which fosters integrated approaches across product value chains as part of our Global Energy Transition strategy,” said Takashi Furutani, Senior Executive Managing Officer at Mitsui & Co. “Kassø exemplifies the importance of international collaboration in scaling low-emission solutions.”
