The company that built the world's first large scale commercial e-methanol plant is taking its model to North America. Denmark's European Energy and Canada's Greenfield Global have signed a joint venture agreement to produce e-methanol in Québec, starting with a plant of 48,000 tonnes a year next to Greenfield's ethanol distillery near Montréal.
The deal, announced on 29 October 2026, creates a jointly owned company. It follows a memorandum of understanding the two signed in 2025 and is European Energy's first project in Canada.
At a glance
Québec e-methanol projectPartnersEuropean Energy (Denmark) and Greenfield Global (Canada)StructureJoint venture companySiteNext to Greenfield's ethanol distillery near MontréalCapacity48,000 tonnes of e-methanol a yearCarbon sourceBiogenic CO2 from fermentation at the distilleryPowerRenewable hydroelectricityStandardRFNBO compliantStatusPreliminary engineering complete; grid connection under constructionMarketsEuropean RFNBO demand, maritime fuels, renewable polymers
How it works
E-methanol is made by combining hydrogen from electrolysis with captured CO2. Here both inputs come from the site. The CO2 is biogenic, released during fermentation at Greenfield's fuel ethanol distillery and supplied under contract. The electricity comes from Québec's hydropower system, among the lowest cost and lowest carbon power in North America. That combination is what allows the fuel to meet the EU rules for renewable fuels of non biological origin (RFNBO), which makes it eligible for European targets.
Where it stands
Preliminary engineering studies are finished and construction of the grid connection has started. Talks with buyers begin now. No investment figure, ownership split or start up date has been published yet.
The partners
- European Energy, founded in Copenhagen in 2004 and active in more than 20 countries, is the majority owner and operator of the Kassø Power to X plant in Denmark, the world's first large scale commercial e-methanol facility, with capacity of 42,000 tonnes a year
- Greenfield Global, privately held for more than 35 years, produces high purity ethanol, specialty solvents and biofuels from several distilleries. Its Varennes site in Québec also runs one of the largest anaerobic digestion plants in North America
The partners plan to use the Québec project as a platform for more Power to X growth across North America.
Why it matters for shipping and ports
Methanol is one of the main routes shipping is taking to cut emissions, and the fleet of methanol capable ships is growing faster than the supply of green methanol. RFNBO fuels also count for extra under FuelEU Maritime, which pushes owners towards e-fuels rather than fossil methanol. A Québec plant with an export route to Europe adds a new source on the Atlantic, alongside Kassø.
For ports, every new e-methanol plant is a question about bunkering. Supply that can reach both European and North American ports makes it easier for terminals on both sides of the Atlantic to plan methanol bunkering infrastructure.
Kassø proved the model in Denmark. Québec is where European Energy tests whether it travels.
