Desert Power®
Desert Power® Ver. 2.0
Copenhagen, Denmark 14 Sep 2023 – The world’s first methanol-enabled container
vessel will carry the name “Laura Mærsk”, the EU Commission President Ursula
von der Leyen revealed at a ceremony in Copenhagen.
The 2,100 TEU (twenty-foot-equivalent) feeder vessel is an important step toward the long-term objective of gradually renewing the entire Maersk fleet to operate solely on green fuels.
The bio-methanol fuel for Laura Maersk was produced and supplied by our sister company, New Fuel A/S.
...Pioneering Sustainable Methanol Production
Turning Waste into Sustainable Methanol – at Industrial Scale
Desert Power® Ver. 2.0 represents a new phase in the development of large-scale,
sustainable methanol production. Building on long-term experience with methanol
technologies and advanced project development, the concept now focuses on
transforming Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) into sustainable methanol, hydrogen,
and captured CO₂ — addressing major environmental and industrial challenges in
one integrated value chain.
The Location
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| Duqm Deep Sea Port |
The state-owned Danish Export and Investment Fund (EIFO) has seed-funded a
methanol plant to be constructed in one of the world’s sunniest regions,
strategically located close to the busiest global shipping routes.
The selected site is the Special Economic Zone at Duqm in the Sultanate of
Oman, characterized by a hot desert climate and excellent conditions for
large-scale renewable energy production.
The planned methanol production will utilize a mix of sustainable feedstock
and energy sources, including wind power, solar energy, and Municipal Solid
Waste (MSW), all of which are abundantly available in the region.
From Waste to Energy
At the core of Desert Power® Ver. 2.0 is the conversion of unsorted
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) into synthesis gas via gasification. The syngas
is subsequently conditioned and converted into methanol using proven
industrial processes.
The concept is designed to:
- divert waste from landfills and open dumping
- replace fossil-based methanol with sustainable alternatives
- enable large-scale carbon capture and utilization or sequestration
The target scale for Desert Power® Ver. 2.0 projects is up to one million
tonnes of sustainable methanol per year per site, depending on feedstock
availability and local conditions.
Proven Technology
The project focuses on system integration and performance at scale. Key
elements include:
- Robust, feed-tolerant gasification technology
- Syngas cleaning and conditioning systems
- Methanol synthesis and purification units
- Optional hydrogen optimisation and carbon capture pathways
- Supply chain integration and offtake strategy
This approach allows Desert Power® to be adapted to local feedstock
composition, regulatory frameworks, and energy markets.
A Danish-based project management and engineering setup has been
established. This setup ensures that projects are developed with a clear
path to execution, operability, and long-term performance.
Offtake interest and commercial discussions have already demonstrated that
large-scale waste-based methanol can compete in future low-carbon fuel
markets when supported by:
- stable waste feedstock supply
- proven industrial processes
- robust project structures
A New Chapter Begins
With strong technical foundations and a clear execution methodology, this next
phase invites collaboration, innovation, and investment towards a cleaner
energy future.
Media
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| President von der Leyen, christened the vessel. - Press release. |
The 2,100 TEU (twenty-foot-equivalent) feeder vessel is an important step toward the long-term objective of gradually renewing the entire Maersk fleet to operate solely on green fuels.
The bio-methanol fuel for Laura Maersk was produced and supplied by our sister company, New Fuel A/S.