HyLion Network planned to produce CO2-reduced hydrogen from renewable energy sources in Scotland and convert it into e-methanol to support shipping, aviation, and motorsport applications across the UK and Europe. MHP provided strategic and operational guidance while assisting the network with digital solutions across the supply chain.
The HyLion Network
The network has brought together key partners, including ARUP, McPhy Energy S.A.S, Bosch Manufacturing Solutions GmbH, E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions, CO2 Recovery Ltd & The Carbon Removers, Mareneco Ltd, Cadeler A/S, and P1 Fuels. The initiative aimed to contribute to the decarbonisation of supply chains through sustainable e-methanol production.
Ludwigsburg / Lockerbie – The overarching goal of the HyLion network was to establish a transnational, European end-to-end supply chain for CO2-reduced hydrogen and e-methanol. The plan involved producing e-methanol in Scotland and distributing it for various applications across Europe, including Germany. Management and IT consultancy MHP played a key role in advising on the development and digitalisation of an efficient supply chain, ensuring a scalable and impactful contribution to reducing carbon emissions in European logistics and industries.
Markus Wambach, Group COO at MHP: “As a network of many strong partners, HyLion has the potential to produce e-methanol in Europe for Europe and thus make an important contribution to the decarbonisation of global supply chains. With AI applications, supply chains can also be made more efficient across the board. And with a transnational supply chain for CO2-reduced hydrogen and e-methanol, the basis can be created for greenhouse gas-reduced solutions in shipping and aviation – and even for motorsport.”
Over 9,000 metric tonnes of hydrogen and around 45,000 metric tonnes of e-methanol per year planned as first pilot
In an initial pilot, the plan is to use 63,000 metric tonnes of biogenic CO2 per year for the production of e-methanol. This CO2 is to come from biomass on the one hand and from the whisky industry on the other. This results in 9,000 metric tonnes of hydrogen and 45,000 metric tonnes of e-methanol per year for the pilot project.
In addition to the initially planned production volume of 25 metric tonnes of hydrogen and the resulting 125 metric tonnes of e-methanol per day, there is already enormous potential for scaling up in subsequent years from today’s perspective: Electrolyzer capacities can be significantly and almost modularly expanded; also, from today’s perspective, around 380,000 metric tonnes of CO2 from biomass as well as 300,000 metric tonnes of CO2 from the whisky industry are available for the network. The plant is expected to start production at the beginning of 2028.
“CO2-reduced hydrogen plays an essential role in achieving the climate targets. The stricter CO2 reduction targets and the increasing political decisions to replace fossil fuels will significantly increase the demand for e-methanol in the future. The abundant wind resources in Northern Europe, especially in Scotland, provide an ideal basis for scalable production of CO2-reduced hydrogen and derivatives,” explains Dr. Sylvia Trage, Partner at MHP and responsible for Supply Chain Excellence.
Planned procedure: network of renowned companies
It is planned that E. ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions will provide the biogenic CO2 for the production of e-methanol from the biomass power plant in Lockerbie. The other part will come from the whisky production process. Here, the Carbon Removers and CO2 Recovery Ltd will extract, liquefy and store the CO2. Both will then be processed in an e-methanol synthesis plant delivered by a European company.
The hydrogen required for e-methanol synthesis will be produced using an electrolyzer (80 MW) from the French company McPhy Energy S.A.S.. Bosch Manufacturing Solutions GmbH will be responsible for water treatment and, if necessary, desalination. The hydrogen produced will then be fed into a synthesis process together with the biogenic CO2 in order to produce e-methanol. P1 Fuels’ technology will convert e-methanol into an e-fuel that fits seamlessly into the existing fuel infrastructure and offers a decarbonisation solution for the automotive industry, international and national racing series, and light aircraft, for example. Another customer for the e-methanol will be the shipping company Cadeler A/S.
The location in the south of Scotland, which is operated by E. ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions, offers numerous advantages, such as a developed infrastructure, a connection to the electricity grid and local energy supply. Mareneco Ltd will supply, handle, and transport the e-methanol to the marine industry, for example to the ports of Cairnryan and Grangemouth.
MHP has leading consulting role
MHP supports with consulting expertise in the area of strategic business field development and comprehensive network coordination in the various project phases as well as in the digitalisation of the entire supply chain. Once it is in place, the experience gained can be transferred to comparable projects. Suitable use cases, for example in transportation and logistics applications, will also be launched. Global engineering and sustainable development consultancy ARUP is responsible for pre-project planning (front end engineering design (FEED)), in close coordination with MHP and the alliance partners.
HyLion with the ‘Green Investment Portfolio’ status of Scottish Development International is already well advanced: Key technology partners along the supply chain and initial customers have committed to supporting the network. Only projects that fit Scotland’s hydrogen strategy, have sufficient scalability and business cases and bring benefits to Scotland will receive this status from the Scottish Government.