Liquid Wind to fuel Wasaline’s Aurora Botnia with eMethanol from FlagshipTHREE plant

Electrofuel (eFuel) developer Liquid Wind has signed a letter of intent (LoI) with energy firm Umeå Energi and shipping company Wasaline for the sale and purchase of eMethanol from the eFuel facility in Umeå, Sweden. 

The LoI will see the three companies examine opportunities for fueling Wasaline with eMethanol from the FlagshipTHREE, the eFuel facility being developed by Liquid Wind and Umeå Energi.

Wasaline’s 2021-built hybrid ferry, Aurora Botnia, is equipped with dual-fuel engines and batteries and operates the route between the Finnish city of Vaasa and the Swedish city of Umeå. Through the new partnership, the shipping company aims to fully decarbonize its ferry operations on this route.

Peter Ståhlberg, Managing Director of Wasaline, commented: “Together with Liquid Wind and Umeå Energi, we are investigating the possibilities and challenges in decarbonizing our route as part of a green corridor between Vaasa and Umeå. By using eMethanol as one option, we would use electrofuel that is locally produced, which also minimizes the transport distances. We are eager to investigate this option together.”

Jan Ridfeldt, CEO of Umeå Energi, added: “I am delighted that we are expanding our alliance with Liquid Wind and welcoming Wasaline to our esteemed list of partners. This cross-border collaboration is pivotal for us as we strive to make the essential shift towards a sustainable future.”

Claes Fredriksson, CEO and Founder of Liquid Wind, said: “We are proud to partner with Wasaline to power the Aurora Botnia ferry with eMethanol. The Letter of Intent showcases the strong possibilities and growing demand for eFuels in the Nordics and beyond. Together with Umeå Energi, we are now putting local and regional infrastructure and supply in place, in Northern Sweden.”

Liquid Wind’s FlagshipTHREE facility is expected to deliver 100,000 tons per year of eMethanol, starting in 2027.

The company submitted an environmental permit application for the project at the end of 2023 and plans to start its construction in 2024.

FlagshipTHREE will be connected to Umeå Energi’s cogeneration plant Dåvaverket. It will capture biogenic CO2 from the Dåva plant and combine it with green hydrogen produced from renewable electricity from newly established or future renewable electricity sources and water to generate green electrofuel, eMethanol.

Liquid Wind’s first electrofuel project FlagshipONE was acquired by Danish offshore wind developer Ørsted in December 2022. The construction of the facility in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, began in May 2023.

The second plant, FlagshipTWO, is being developed in Sundsvall with production planned to start at the end of 2025.