MAN Energy Solutions is designing a 200 MW plant in Finland that will produce 55,000 tonnes of synthetic natural gas annually to decarbonize heavy-duty transport.

Koppö Energia has commissioned MAN Energy Solutions to deliver the front-end engineering design (FEED) for the methanation reactor of an industrial-scale power-to-X plant. The plant, with a total input capacity of 200 MW, will be built in Kristinestad, Finland for the production of green hydrogen and synthetic natural gas (SNG). Koppö Energia is a joint venture between Prime Capital, a German-based asset manager specializing in alternative energy projects, and CPC Finland, a subsidiary of project developer and green power producer, CPC Germania.

Upon completion, the Kristinestad plant will convert 200 MW of green electricity – primarily produced by wind power – initially into green hydrogen through electrolysis, and ultimately into liquefied SNG through methanation. The SNG will be used to decarbonize the European heavy-duty transport sector.

MAN Energy Solutions Deggendorf is responsible for the FEED of the methanation reactor, which will eventually produce 55,000 tonnes of SNG annually. Koppö Energia plans to place the order for the delivery of the reactor system in 2024.

“MAN Energy Solutions is already a power-to-X pioneer in Europe. Back in 2012, we commissioned the methanation reactor for what was, at that time, Europe’s largest power-to-gas plant with 6 MW in Werlte, Germany,” said Norbert Anger, site manager at MAN Energy Solutions Deggendorf. “I am proud that our proven reactor solution is now planned to be used on an industrial scale. We urgently need synthetic fuels in large quantities if the decarbonization of global supply chains is to succeed.”

The new plant is part of the Koppö energy cluster, which also includes the parallel development of up to 500 MW of wind power and 100 MW of photovoltaic power that will supply the power-to-X plant with large amounts of renewable energy in the medium term.