Project Air in Sweden: Uniper commissions Sunfire to build a 30 MW electrolyzer
In one of the flagship projects of the energy transition, the Swedish “Project Air", implementation is moving full steam ahead. Uniper has commissioned the Dresden-based company Sunfire to build a 30 MW pressurized alkaline electrolysis plant which will generate green hydrogen using renewable electricity and purified wastewater. The final investment decision is still pending.
Project Air is an industrial initiative to transform the chemical industry towards climate neutrality, with far-reaching effects throughout industrial value chains. The project is a collaboration between Perstorp Group and Uniper. An agreement with CINEA (European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency) on January 19 granted the project support from the EU Innovation Fund to facilitate its groundbreaking technology which is a critical enabler for the European chemicals industry to become carbon neutral.
Project Air will produce sustainable methanol for chemical manufacturing using circular production methods. Perstorp will build a Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) plant in Stenungsund, Sweden, that will convert carbon dioxide emissions captured from its operations as well as other residue streams, biogas and renewable hydrogen to methanol. Renewable hydrogen will be supplied by a pressurized alkaline electrolyzer developed and manufactured by Sunfire.
Sunfire CEO Nils Aldag said: ”We are proud to contribute our proven alkaline technology to Project Air. Through its unique and multipurpose potential in different sectors, green hydrogen is a master key for climate protection, energy security, creating new jobs and helping our economies thrive. The project marks a decisive step towards a green industrial transformation for Uniper."
"Project Air will allow Uniper to take an important step towards breaking the fossil dependence of the chemical industry. Once fully developed, it will be of high interest to chemical industries around the globe, as it clearly demonstrates the possibility to make the shift from fossil raw materials to circular production. With Sunfire, we have found an excellent partner for a central pillar of the project and are thus driving forward the European hydrogen strategy," said Dr. Axel Wietfeld, CEO Hydrogen Uniper.
For more information, please contact:
Sunfire
Laura Dicke
Head of Communications
T + 49 (0) 173 692 0974
laura.dicke@sunfire.de
Uniper SE
Dr. Adrian Schaffranietz
Coordinator Hydrogen Communications and Governmental Relations
T + 49 (0) 151 120 303 24
adrian.schaffranietz@uniper.energy
Uniper Sweden
Torbjörn Larsson, Press Officer
T + 46 (0) 706 373 277
torbjorn.larsson@swe.uniper.energy
About Sunfire
Sunfire is a global leader in the production of industrial electrolyzers based on pressurized alkaline and solid oxide (SOEC) technologies. With its electrolysis solutions, Sunfire is addressing a key challenge of today’s energy system: providing renewable hydrogen and Syngas as climate-neutral substitutes for fossil energy. Sunfire’s innovative and proven electrolysis technology enables the transformation of carbonintensive industries that are currently dependent on fossil-based oil, gas, or coal. The company employs more than 500 people located in Germany and Switzerland. For further information please visit www.sunfire.de/en
About Uniper
Düsseldorf-based Uniper is an international energy company with activities in more than 40 countries. With around 7,000 employees, it makes an important contribution to security of supply in Europe. Uniper’s core businesses are power generation in Europe, global energy trading, and a broad gas portfolio. Uniper procures gas – including liquefied natural gas (LNG) – and other energy sources on global markets. The company owns and operates gas storage facilities with a capacity of more than 7 billion cubic meters. Uniper plans for its 22.5 GW of installed power-generating capacity in Europe to be carbon-neutral by 2035. The company already ranks among Europe’s largest operators of hydroelectric plants and intends to further expand solar and wind energy, which are essential for a more sustainable and autonomous future.
Uniper is a reliable partner for communities, municipal utilities, and industrial enterprises for planning and implementing innovative, lower-carbon solutions on their decarbonization journey. Uniper is a hydrogen pioneer, is active worldwide along the entire hydrogen value chain, and is conducting projects to make hydrogen a mainstay of the energy supply.
