European Energy will build PtX plant at Hanstholm Port

In recent years, Hanstholm Port has focused on expanding the port area by 130,000 square meters. The goal for the port is to transform the majority of the large area into a local energy community called "Hanstholm Energifællesskab A/S". It will be the framework for a wide range of green energy production at Hanstholm Port.

That goal has now come one step closer. The port has therefore signed a letter of intent with European Energy, which deals with the development of renewable energy. The declaration specifies shared ambitions that the port, among other things, will be home to a Power-to-X plant for the production of e-methanol and hydrogen.

- The Port of Hanstholm has launched a very ambitious energy vision, where we see great potential in becoming a partner in the realization of Hanstholm Energifællesskab A/S - and in this way not only contribute to developing renewable energy as a business area at the Port of Hanstholm, but also to the delivery of future green energy forms to the port's users, says CEO and founder of European Energy, Knud Erik Andersen, and adds:

- We are in the process of identifying possible local CO₂ sources in and around the Port of Hanstholm as suppliers for an e-methanol plant, which is a green alternative to the ships' current oil consumption. At the same time, we are looking at building a hydrogen plant, which in addition to being another significant resource for the production of e-methanol.

Will be Europe's greenest and first CO₂-neutral fishing port

The goal of the declaration of intent for the Port of Hanstholm is to pave the way for the port to become Europe's greenest and first CO₂-neutral fishing port.

- With the expansion of the Port of Hanstholm, we have gained the right capacity to kickstart an energy adventure that can support green transition, attract billions in investments from green industries and create additional work for, among others, the many local service companies at the Port of Hanstholm and contractors throughout the Municipality of Thisted. In this way, we want to show how a fishing port can also be an energy port and create strong synergy between the fishing industry and green energy, says port director Nils Skeby.

International perspective

However, it is not only at Hanstholm Port and at European Energy that people are also happy in the corridors of the town hall in Thisted municipality. The incoming mayor, Niels Jørgen Pedersen (V), believes that the establishment of the Hanstholm Energy Community will make the Hanstholm Port a leading port for CO₂-neutral port operations in Europe.

- The Hanstholm Energy Community will create an energy community that spreads as a green echo to all the actors in and around the port who can either supply or consume central energy resources. This applies in particular to sources such as CO₂ and electricity, but also, among other things, oxygen and residual waste from, for example, the fishing industry and aquaculture facilities, says the future mayor and continues:

- Hanstholm Port thus has the potential to become a textbook example of how fishing and renewable energy can go into symbiosis and create the business foundation of the future, which can serve as inspiration for other industrial clusters at, for example, ports – not only here in Denmark, but also in the rest of the world.

Hanstholm Port and European Energy expect to begin negotiating a final agreement in early January 2022 with the aim of more energy plants during 2023.

amp