Liquid Wind and Uniper Forge Strategic Partnership to Boost eFuels Development
- 16-Jul-2024 4:44 PM
- Journalist: Yage Kwon
Liquid Wind and Uniper have announced the formalization of a strategic partnership agreement aimed at expediting the establishment of eFuel facilities for producing fossil-free eMethanol. This collaboration will harness the combined strengths and expertise of both companies to advance the commercial-scale deployment of eFuel facilities, with a focus on cost reduction, risk mitigation, and supply chain development.
As part of the partnership, Liquid Wind and Uniper will explore opportunities for collaboration in facility development, power supply, and the procurement of eMethanol, synergizing with Liquid Wind's existing development initiatives.
As a prominent player in the European energy sector, Uniper views the establishment of large-scale eFuel facilities as crucial for advancing towards a low-carbon society. As outlined in the collaboration, Liquid Wind may provide development services for Uniper's forthcoming eFuel facilities. Conversely, Uniper may supply fossil-free electricity to Liquid Wind's future facilities and procure eMethanol for commercial distribution. This partnership aligns with Liquid Wind's market strategy to expand globally by developing and deploying eFuel facilities.
Claes Fredriksson, CEO and founder of Liquid Wind, states: "Achieving decarbonization demands dedicated collaboration across the value chain to achieve impactful results in combating global warming. Through this strategic partnership, we are leveraging our combined strengths to accelerate execution and drive the green transition forward. We are eager to deepen our collaboration with Uniper, building on our initial partnership established in 2020."
Johan Svenningsson, Country Chairman of Uniper Sweden, comments: "Together, we can accelerate the necessary transformation through enhanced cooperation in this strategic partnership. Producing fossil-free liquid fuels, known as eFuels, is strategically vital for advancing the green transformation. Decarbonizing the transportation sectors—land-based, air-based, and maritime—is a primary focus of Uniper's strategy. With Sweden's power system predominantly fossil-free, our next steps aim to reduce overall dependence on fossil fuels within the entire Swedish energy system. Sweden is well-positioned to lead this development, and our collaboration with Liquid Wind places us at the forefront of this effort."
At the heart of this strategic partnership lies eMethanol, acknowledged as crucial for decarbonizing challenging sectors like global shipping, which account for a substantial share of global greenhouse gas emissions. eMethanol is a versatile, low-carbon liquid fuel that offers ease of storage, transport, and utilization. Produced from the synthesis of green hydrogen and biogenic carbon dioxide, its capacity to substantially mitigate emissions in these sectors underscores the significance of this collaboration.
Yet, to expedite societal and industrial transformation, it is imperative to establish and enforce regulations for new business models that facilitate the shift towards fossil-free fuels like eMethanol.