Arcadia eFuels obtains environmental permit for eSAF project in Vordingborg, Denmark

The Arcadia eFuels team on site in Vordingborg. (Photo: Arcadia eFuels)

The Arcadia eFuels project in Vordingborg, Denmark, has reached a major milestone as the Danish Environmental Protection Agency recently has published the environmental permit for the project.

Now Arcadia eFuels has approval for operating full-scale production of electro-sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF), including all aspects of the production process from water purification, electrolysis, Fischer-Tropsch reactors and to the final refining of eSAF.

The harbor expansion in Port of Vordingborg is ready for Arcadia eFuels. (Photo: Arcadia eFuels)

The project will be compliant within the objective of the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive and the Danish government’s goal of launching a fully sustainable domestic aviation industry.

In collaboration with Ramboll and WSP, the project team has documented all possible safety, environmental and social impacts related to the project.

The approval of the environmental-impact assessment is the acknowledgement of the project’s minimal environmental impact, including the protection of human health, biodiversity, water and air quality, climate and cultural heritage, according to Arcadia eFuels.

The environmental permit is the final confirmation of the project’s compliance with Danish and EU legislation.

The permit was publicly announced here.

“Our environmental permit documents that a first-of-a-kind full-scale eSAF production facility can be designed and approved in Denmark,” said Martin Nielsen, the plant manager for Arcadia eFuels. “Our efforts to design a minimal-impact plant have been acknowledged by the authorities, and we have a green flag to finalize the project development and commence the construction. We very much appreciate the [cooperation] with our consultants and the authority’s guidance in the complex legislative workflow.”

With the final permit, the project team is moving full-steam ahead, Arcadia eFuels stated.

All attention is focused on reaching the final-investment decision.

The project is experiencing great support from various stakeholders, among others, the municipal council and Port of Vordingborg, according to Arcadia eFuels.   

“Arcadia eFuels represents a new generation of infrastructure accelerating the green transition,” said Mikael Smed, the mayor of Vordingborg. “They are therefore a significant element in the vision of Vordingborg municipality to be the primary hub for sustainable energy in Eastern Denmark. The achievement of Arcadia eFuels to obtain an environmental permit is an important step towards our common goal.”

Jan-Jaap Cramer, the CEO of the Port of Vordingborg, added, “Port of Vordingborg appreciates the cooperation with Arcadia eFuels. The accomplishment of the environmental permit is another valuable indication that Port of Vordingborg offers the right conditions for establishing sustainable value chains.”

The facility in Vordingborg is expected to be the one of the world’s first large-scale Power-to-X plants dedicated to producing eSAF.

The production rate is expected to be upwards of 100 million liters (26.4 million gallons) annually, which is able to cover the fuel demand for domestic flights in Denmark.

By utilizing captured CO2, purified sea water and renewable electricity as raw materials, Arcadia eFuels is advancing the development of carbon-recycling technology and water purification.

The company’s aim is to decarbonize the aviation industry in alignment with EU efforts.

The initial EU requirement is for 1.2 percent eSAF to be used at EU airports starting in 2030, with a planned increase to 35 percent by 2050.

The plant will utilize 360 megawatts of electricity and consume approximately 260,000 tons of CO2 annually, being a vital part of both the future power grid as well as an upcoming CO2 capture and utilization market.