About the Fjord PtX Green Hydrogen e-SAF Project in Aalborg, Denmark
At the core of this initiative is the construction of CIP’s Fjord PtX plant, located in Aalborg, Denmark. With an estimated cost of €1.5 billion to €2 billion, this facility will produce approximately 90,000 tonnes of e-SAF annually, enough to cover the entire fuel consumption of Denmark’s domestic flights.
Construction of the plant is expected to begin in 2025 or 2026, with full operational capacity anticipated before 2030. The plant will consume up to 1.5 TWh of electricity annually—about 5% of Denmark’s total yearly electricity consumption—and will generate enough waste heat to supply around 7,000 households.
One of the innovative aspects of the e-SAF green hydrogen project is its flexibility and adaptability to the volatility of renewable energy sources. Denmark’s renewable energy infrastructure primarily relies on wind and solar power, both of which are subject to fluctuations. The Fjord PtX plant will be designed to adjust its production processes to accommodate these variations, consuming up to 400 MW of electricity during peak production.
The Challenges Surrounding EU Strict SAF Mandates
The European Union (EU) has set ambitious sustainability targets for the aviation sector, including the mandate that 1% of aviation fuel must come from green hydrogen by 2030. While the regulation is expected to drive demand for SAF across Europe, fuel suppliers must meet quotas and pay double the premium compared to conventional jet fuel for each barrel, with penalties for non-compliance. Many planned projects have faced delays due to high costs and a lack of committed off-takers.
“We urge European and Danish governments and authorities to step up by providing clear and supportive schemes, which will be key for the ramp up of this new industry,” said CIP Partner Søren Toftgaard.
Building a Green Hydrogen Ecosystem for Aviation
Green hydrogen is an energy pathway to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors, such as the aviation industry, and can be used to fuel short-haul aircrafts via combustion or fuel cells, or long-haul aircrafts via Power-to-Liquid e-SAF. Architecting a green hydrogen ecosystem for aviation will require significant global investment and collaboration in order to scale up the production capacity needed to reduce our reliance on conventional jet fuels.
The Fjord PtX plant’s ability to produce e-SAF will make a significant contribution to achieving both Denmark’s and the EU’s sustainability goals, furthering Denmark’s ambition to lead in green energy and clean aviation.
Anko van der Werff, President & CEO of SAS, emphasized the importance of collaboration between public and private sectors to create a robust green hydrogen market. “We’re very excited and proud to join forces in this green hydrogen partnership, which brings us closer to a sustainable future for aviation,” he said. The collaboration between CIP and Denmark’s leading aviation companies reflects a collective effort to address the challenges of sustainable aviation fuel production and drive Denmark’s climate goals forward.
