Sunfire to deliver 30-MW electrolyser for Project Air in Sweden

German energy company Uniper SE (ETR:UN01) has commissioned Dresden-based electrolyser maker Sunfire GmbH to supply and install a 30-MW pressurised alkaline electrolysis plant as part of the so-called Project Air in Sweden.

The two companies announced the contract award on Tuesday but noted that the final investment decision (FID) has not yet been made.

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Project Air is an EU-backed partnership between Uniper and Perstorp Group aimed at producing sustainable methanol for chemical manufacturing. The plan is for Perstorp to build a Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) plant in Stenungsund, Sweden, to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from its operations and use it as raw material in the production of methanol. Other associated processes include the recycling of residue streams containing carbon and hydrogen from production, the gasification of biomethane into synthesis gas, and the use of purified wastewater and renewable power to produce green hydrogen.

It has been estimated that the project will result in a relative decrease of 123% in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions avoidance in comparison with conventional methanol synthesis.

Last week, representatives of the two project partners and CINEA (European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency) signed an agreement stipulating that Project Air will receive EUR 97 million (USD 105m) in financial support from the EU Innovation Fund.

The total investment in the project was previously calculated at more than EUR 230 million.

(EUR 1 = USD 1.083)