European Energy has officially inaugurated its first green hydrogen facility in Måde, near Esbjerg, Denmark.
It marks the company’s first venture into large-scale hydrogen production using renewable energy.
Construction was completed in June 2024 and after a commissioning phase, the facility is now operational with the first electrolyser supplied by Danish company Stiesdal.
Plans are already in place to expand the facility with two additional electrolysers, with the next expected to be installed in 2025.
When all three electrolysers are operating, the plant will have a total capacity of 12 megawatts (MW) and an expected annual production of 1,500 metric tonnes of hydrogen.
Knud Erik Andersen, CEO of European Energy, said with the start of operations at Måde, it can deliver green hydrogen to market.
He said, “This achievement demonstrates that the transformation of our energy systems is not just a distant vision – it’s happening right now.”
Green hydrogen produced at the Måde facility will be supplied to the Port Esbjerg and a ‘leading company in industrial gases’.
Excess heat generated from the hydrogen production process will be utilised by DIN Forsyning, the local heating utility in Esbjerg municipality, further contributing to the decarbonisation of the municipality.
Centrica will serve as the facility’s balancing and optimisation partner, ensuring that energy usage and hydrogen production are efficiently managed to maximise output and minimise costs.
The operation of the facility will provide valuable insights into green hydrogen production and operations for European Energy.
Emil Vikjær-Andresen, Executive Vice-President and Head of Power-to-X at European Energy, said, “This facility is just the beginning. Through the many learnings we have captured by designing, constructing and commissioning the plant, we will be able to reduce cost and time for future plants while improving project economics. And this is pivotal for helping to decarbonise industries that are hard to directly electrify.”
European Energy is currently in the commissioning phase of its Kassø green methanol facility, which is expected to produce the first green methanol by the end of 2024.
Green hydrogen continues to grapple with supply, demand, financing and regulatory issues. Latest forecasts point to falling demand as more sectors are expected to decarbonise through direct electrification and batteries as their prices fall.
Neste recently withdrew from investing into a 120 MW electrolyser project to produce renewable hydrogen at its Porvoo refinery in Finland.
Read more: Neste blames market for dropping green hydrogen project
