Decarbonise domestic industries and meet future export demand

By directing renewable electricity supplies to “power” electrolysers, together with water, hydrogen is produced. Processing the green gas into e-methanol or other synthetic fuels in power-to-x (PtX) plants can decarbonise heavy road transport, shipping and aviation, as well as a raft of heavy industries, from chemicals to steel making.

Close collaboration across the value chain is key

Recognising that green fuels and energy are critical to reaching net zero, at Aalborg we are setting out a blueprint for developing and scaling these industries in the most sustainable way. Achieving this can only be done through close collaboration and cooperation across the value chain, spanning academia/R&D, start-ups, industrial producers, renewable energy companies, authorities and end users.

European Energy is developing PtX projects on sites at the Port of Aalborg. One is a PtX facility, which will produce 100,000 tonnes of e-methanol and start production in 2027. The other, supported by the Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Programme (EUDP), will set up a test facility that can convert e-methanol to eSAF (sustainable aviation fuel).

“At Aalborg we are setting out a blueprint for developing and scaling these industries in the most sustainable way.”

– Jesper Raakjær

Port of Aalborg is committed to ensuring a sustainable green transition. Blaest’s wind testing facilities help to ensure next-generation turbines can achieve optimal productivity. Meanwhile, world-leading wind research at the University of Aalborg is advancing power electronics, hardware and controls that ensure clean energy generated by turbines is converted into grid-ready electricity, by minimising losses in conversion.

Taking industrial symbiosis from concept to commercial reality

The Port of Aalborg’s green transition rests on promoting the “industrial symbiosis approach”. This is underpinned by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, to enable truly sustainable growth, where resources – energy, waste, water, raw materials – are reused or recycled.

Having contributed to the development of symbioses through various projects, including the Miljø++ project (2016-2020), which is now in its second phase as Miljø++ 2.0 (2020-2028), the port is ready to bed these into commercial and industrial activities in the area.

Nearby Aalborg Portland, which is Denmark’s biggest carbon dioxide emitter, is developing a process that will capture carbon dioxide from cement production, so that the gas can potentially be used in the production of e-methanol in PtX plants. The concept shows an example of the symbioses approach where materials defined as a waste product produced by one process, is a valuable resource or commodity in another.

In Aalborg we’re practising what we preach, to deliver green growth, without greenwashing.

Want to know more about the logistical challenges and possibilities facing the future of renewables, and the roles of circularity and symbioses for effecting a sustainable green transition? Read the whole article here and find out exactly what we are doing at Port of Aalborg