European Energy, one of the companies supplying Maersk Line with green methanol, is looking to expand its footprint into South America.
The Danish energy company has just partnered with Petrobras to explore commercial opportunities to develop an e-methanol production facility in Brazil.
The companies’ intention was formalised through a memorandum of understanding following the visit of Petrobras senior management, to European Energy’s headquarters in Soborg, Denmark.
The two parties said they will assess several development workstreams necessary to evaluate the implementation of an e-methanol facility in Brazil by leveraging their respective competencies.
European Energy said this potential collaborative venture represents a “significant stride towards the development of green e-fuels in Brazil”.
“Petrobras wants to focus on having good partners like European Energy. Established, reliable companies that are solid enough to work with us on large-scale projects. This partnership will benefit both sides,” said Petrobras president Paul Prates.
European Energy has been present in Brazil since 2016 with headquarters in Recife, Pernambuco State. It says it possesses local in-house expertise across all areas including development, construction, and operation of renewable energy assets.
The company has connected 187 MW of solar and wind energy to the Brazilian national grid and possesses a development pipeline of 1.5 GW across the country.
European Energy is currently building what it describes as the world’s first large-scale commercial e-methanol facility in Kasso, Denmark, which is expected to produce 32,000 tonnes of e-methanol annually in 2024 for several clients including AP Moller–Maersk.
“European Energy, with a substantial track record in renewable energy projects, brings the expertise obtained from Denmark’s first large-scale commercial e-methanol facility to this initiative,” the company said.
“We have, in the development and construction phase of our Kasso project, gained invaluable experience and knowledge in the field of producing e-methanol,” said Emil Vikjær-Andresen, executive vice president and head of power-to-X in European Energy.
“This agreement with Petrobras is a milestone for us to use that know-how in furthering the green transition in the fuel sector in the country.”
