As the first in Denmark, Nature Energy and MAKEEN Energy will produce liquified biogas for ferries and trucks

The Danish biogas producer, Nature Energy, has agreed with MAKEEN Energy that they together will construct the first plant to produce liquified biogas, which is a green and CO2-neutral fuel. The plant will be placed in Frederikshavn, where it can supply the Nordic shipping- and transport sector, and it is expected that Samsø Rederi, among others, will use the liquified biogas manufactured in Denmark for ferry services.

Even though the Danish production of biogas is record high, there has not yet been produced liquified biogas in Denmark.  

But that will now change. In collaboration with MAKEEN Energy, Nature Energy will construct a so-called LBG-plant by the port in Frederikshavn that will produce liquified biogas, which e.g. can be used for ferries and trucks. Nature Energy is the largest producer of biogas in Denmark and MAKEEN Energy is a specialist in developing equipment and projects to cool down gasses. Together the companies have developed a shared company behind the project, which has been given the name Nordic Liquefaction (NORDLIQ).

“The new plant will be the first of its kind in Denmark when it is expected to be finished in mid-2023. This marks a whole new chapter for the green transition in this country because it will now be possible for ferries and trucks to tank up with a green fuel, in the form of liquified biogas, on Danish ground,” says CEO of Nature Energy, Ole Hvelplund.

CCO at MAKEEN Energy, Bo Larsen, is looking forward to realizing the NORDLIQ-project that will deliver the first liquified biogas in Denmark.

“Liquified biogas will become an important part of the future green fuels, and we are therefore proud to take part in this project with Nature Energy that will create new ways of ensuring an effective green transition in the transport sector,” he states.

Great potential for the heavy transport

While trucks that operate on liquified gas are widespread in Germany, Norway, and Sweden, it is still a rare occurrence in Denmark.

Currently, it is not possible for trucks to refuel with neither liquified natural gas (LNG) nor liquified biogas (LBG) on the danish gas stations, which prevents a lot of gas-driven trucks to enter Denmark. Hopefully, that will change now, says Ole Hvelplund:

”Liquified biogas is especially demanded in the heavy part of the transport, where there is a great need for a green alternative to the fossil fuels that are still dominating the roads today. Therefore, we are proud to be frontrunners on the establishment of this plant that will benefit the entire transport sector.”  

CEO of Port Frederikshavn, Mikkel Seedorff Sørensen, is very happy about the placement of NORDLIQ:

”We are both happy and proud that NORDLIQ has decided to place their plant in Frederikshavn. It underlines our strategically important location between the shipping route into Østersøen and the freeway network, and it is also contributing to strengthening Port Frederikshavn’s position as a green center.”

Between 60.000 and 100.000 ships are each year passing Port Frederikshavn, and one of the possible consumers of the liquified gas will be Bunker One who, in collaboration with NORDLIQ, will contribute to sales and marketing to the shipping industry.  

Peter Zachariassen, CEO in Bunker One, states: ”In Bunker One, we are extremely proud to have been given the opportunity to offer the maritime sector a product produced in Denmark, which we see a higher demand for than ever”.

Today, Samsø Rederi has one ferry that sails on natural gas, which is being imported to Denmark from the Netherlands, and the company is looking forward to the possibility to fill their tanks with liquified biogas.

”A more sustainable ferry-operation is a crucial focus area for Samsø Rederi, and soon we can take a step forward and use liquified biogas, produced in Denmark. This, we believe is interesting, and therefore we expect to convert to liquified biogas when the future LBG-plant has been established,” says Carsten Kruse, ferry director at Samsø Rederi.

The fuel service company, Q8, is already delivering liquified natural gas (LNG) to Samsø Rederi, and Q8’s Head of Fleet and IDS, Gert Thomasen sees a great potential in liquified biogas, produced in Denmark, which could, among other things, be used at the company’s coming gas station in Padborg which as the first in Denmark, will supply the heavy transport with liquified gas.

“We would like to make it easier for our customers to take part in the green transition, and therefore it will be a large step along the way towards a more sustainable heavy transport if we in the future can deliver liquified biogas that has been produced in Denmark. Because liquified biogas is a very relevant alternative to heavy transport, that cannot be electrified tomorrow. Simultaneously, the liquified biogas is also interesting for our marine costumers, who are focused on alternatives to the traditional fossil fuels,” says Gert Thomasen from Q8.

NORDLIQ expects that the construction of the LBG-plant can begin later this year (2021), when the construction permit is in place.

Facts

• Liquified biogas (LBG) is a climate-friendly alternative to liquified natural gas (LNG), which e.g. is used in multiple parts of the transport sector. Neither liquified natural gas nor liquified biogas is produced in Denmark today. Liquified biogas is produced by cooling down the biogas to -160 degrees Celsius, whereby the green gas becomes 600 times more compact and thereby usable and rentable as a fuel for the transport sector.
• When the LGB plant is expected to be completed, it will at first be able to produce around 20.000 tons of liquified biogas per year. Hereafter, there will be a potential to expand the plant, so that it will be able to produce nearly 120.000 tons of liquified biogas per year. In comparison, SAMSØLINJEN alone uses between 3000-4000 tons of liquified natural gas per year.
• Nature Energy has established a partnership with MAKEEN Energy in the joint company NORDLIQ, which will be in charge of the production of liquified biogas in Frederikshavn. The establishment of the LBG-plant is an investment on a three-figure multi-million sum, where Nature Energy delivers 2/3 of the investment, while MAKEEN Energy provides 1/3.
• Since liquified natural gas (LNG) and liquified biogas (LBG) are almost chemically identical, the new plant in Frederikshavn will also be able to produce LNG, depending on the custumers wants and needs.
• The construction of the plant is expected to begin later in 2021 and is anticipated to be finished by mid-2023.