Overview of the Kassø-power-to-X facility (Source: European Energy)

Behind European Energy’s Kassø power-to-X facility is a technology stack delivered by Schneider Electric. Schneider says its future-ready design supports enhanced productivity and cost efficiencies, while ensuring reliability, safety and sustainability – creating a scalable blueprint essential for accelerating green energy production.

Powered by renewable electricity from the adjacent 304 MW Kassø solar park, the largest in the Nordics, the facility captures biogenic CO2 from nearby sources to produce up to 42 000 tonnes of e-methanol annually.

Kassø e-methanol plant
Kassø solar park (Source: European Energy)

Today, low-carbon methanol alternatives represent only a fraction of global supply, yet IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency) forecasts demand for e- and biomethanol could reach 500 million tonnes by 2050 as industries race to meet climate goals. Scaling commercially viable e-methanol is essential, especially for hard-to-electrify sectors like chemicals, aviation, and shipping – to decarbonise operations and unlock a global clean fuel economy.

Schneider Electric says its technology underpins the Kassø plant’s commercial success, delivering a fully integrated automation, energy management, and software solution that optimises every stage of production to boost performance, reliability, and cost-efficiency. This makes e-methanol more competitive and commercially viable, says Schneider.

With 52 MW of electrolyser capacity, the Kassø power-to-X facility can produce around 8000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually, which is combined with biogenic carbon dioxide to produce e-methanol.

Kassø e-methanol plant
Kassø power-to-X facility and solar park (Source: European Energy)

The process creates excess heat, which can be supplied to the local district heating network to provide climate-friendly and affordable heat to local residents.

e-methanol facilities such as Kassø can ramp up and down production and utilise surplus renewable electricity in the grid. Thus, production of e-methanol can play a role in balancing the grid during peak periods when the energy system is not consuming all the electricity produced.

Kassø e-methanol plant
12 March 2025 saw European Energy successfully produce the first e-methanol at the Kassø power-to-X facility. The methanol was produced in the first of two methanol lines at the facility and made use of biogenic carbon dioxide sourced locally at the Tønder biogas facility (Source: European Energy)

Technology backbone

European Energy’s technology stack for Kassø features Schneider Electric’s advanced automation architecture including Modicon M580 PLCs, delivering high-performance automation with built-in cybersecurity and real-time data intelligence. Safety Integrity Level (SIL) certified safety modules and advanced diagnostics ensure safe, resilient operations, even in the harshest environments, Schneider Electric notes.

Altivar Process low-voltage drives add intelligent motor control with integrated energy monitoring and process optimisation, reducing power consumption and extending asset life.

Trihal transformers provide fire-safe, low-maintenance performance with IoT-enabled thermal monitoring to prevent overheating and unplanned downtime.

All systems are unified through the AVEVA System Platform, offering real-time operational visibility and centralised control across sites. The platform’s scalable architecture supports the development of a Unified Operations Center (UOC), enabling faster decisions, improved operator efficiency, remote operations and streamlined engineering. In addition, Schneider’s Cybersecurity by Design ensures secure remote and hybrid operations – protecting infrastructure and maintaining compliance across European Energy’s global footprint.

“This project marks a pivotal moment in the journey toward industrial decarbonisation,” says Gwenaelle Avice Huet, Executive Vice President, Industrial Automation, Schneider Electric. “By embedding automation, energy management, and software into a unified solution, we’re helping European Energy reduce downtime, emissions, and operational costs, while enhancing performance, reliability, and safety. Together, we’re creating a scalable, replicable model that can accelerate the global rollout of commercial e-methanol plants and drive the transition to a more sustainable energy future.”

The Kassø facility builds on Schneider Electric’s decade-long partnership with European Energy, which began with solar infrastructure and evolved into deep collaboration on power-to-X systems. The project was managed and delivered by Soft & Teknik A/S, a long-standing Schneider Electric Alliance Partner. Soft & Teknik was responsible for the full implementation of Schneider Electric’s technologies at the Kassø site – from automation and energy management systems to power distribution equipment – and led the development of the integrated software package that unifies operations across the facility.

Kassø e-methanol plant
Kassø power-to-X, the basic concept (Image: European Energy)

“This isn’t just a milestone for European Energy, it’s a breakthrough for the global green fuels industry,” suggests Knud Erik Andersen, CEO of European Energy. “We have had a long co-operation with Schneider Electric. Their advanced technology has made it faster going from pilot to full-scale commercial production at our Kassø facility. This will advance clean fuel innovation and support the global energy transition.”

Confirmed off takers include A.P. Moller – Maersk, Novo Nordisk, and the LEGO
Group, each adopting Kassø’s sustainable feedstock as a fossil fuel alternative. Locally, the facility supports district heating for  3300 homes and contributes to grid stability, reinforcing its role in both global and community-level sustainability.

The methanol facility and the 304 MW Kassø solar park are owned by Solar Park Kassø ApS (SPK) under the joint venture company, Kassø MidCo ApS (MidCo). MidCo is co-owned by European Energy (51%) and Mitsui, global trading and investment company (49%).