Mitsui & Co., Ltd. and renewable energy company European Energy A/S are expanding the customer base and applications for the world’s first e-methanol, produced at a plant in Kassø, Aabenraa Municipality, southern Denmark.
The plant was established by Solar Park Kasso ApS, a subsidiary of a joint venture between Mitsui and European Energy, as demand grows for low-carbon fuels and materials across Europe.
The project made its first shipment in May 2025, supplying e-methanol to Danish shipping giant A.P. Moller - Maersk for use as marine fuel.
The momentum has continued into 2026. In spring 2026, the project began supplying e-methanol for use in chemical products to LEGO, the global toy manufacturer, and Novo Nordisk, the global healthcare company.
The customer base is also widening beyond shipping and industrial products. Mitsui and European Energy have decided to supply e-methanol to leading European energy company OMV as a Renewable Fuel of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO) for use as a land-based transportation fuel.
The expanding range of applications highlights the potential of e-methanol as Europe accelerates efforts to cut carbon emissions across transport and industry.
Mitsui has identified “Global Energy Transformation 2.0” as a key strategic initiative under its Medium-term Management Plan 2029. The company aims to broaden its portfolio of low-carbon energy products while developing value chains that respond to rapidly changing market conditions and customer needs.
E-methanol is produced by combining green hydrogen, generated using renewable electricity, with green carbon dioxide (CO2) derived from biomass. Unlike technologies that rely solely on green hydrogen, e-methanol can leverage existing methanol distribution networks and storage infrastructure, giving it a potentially significant advantage as demand for low-carbon fuels grows.
The fuel can support decarbonization across multiple sectors, including transportation applications where the direct use of green hydrogen remains challenging, such as land transport and aviation.
Demand is expected to rise across Europe, particularly in Germany, as policy measures including the Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) drive the adoption of renewable fuels.
With Mitsui and European Energy broadening both the customer base and applications for e-methanol, the Kassø project is emerging as a key platform for scaling low-carbon methanol and supporting Europe’s wider energy transition.
