Uniper advances NorthStarH2 into basic engineering

Uniper awards contracts worth more than SEK 100 million for the next development phase of NorthStarH2
The planned facility in Östersund is designed to produce around 115,000 tonnes of e-methanol per year
E-methanol can help reduce the use of fossil fuels in sectors such as transport and the chemical industry

Uniper has signed contracts with AFRY, Carbon Clean, Siemens Energy and Topsoe to begin the next development phase for NorthStarH2, a planned e-methanol production facility in Östersund aimed at helping decarbonize sectors such as transport and the chemical industry. The work will run for approximately one year. The contracts are worth more than SEK 100 million in total.

NorthStarH2 is an important project in Uniper’s energy transition portfolio. These contracts allow us to move from early project development into basic engineering and take another important step towards assessing the project’s technical and commercial feasibility.” – Johan Svenningsson, CEO of Uniper Sweden.

Uniper and its suppliers will now, during the so-called FEED phase (Front-End Engineering Design), define the plant’s technical design and prepare the project for construction.

With these contracts in place, we can now develop the plant design in much greater detail and define how NorthStarH2 will be built. Östersund offers strong conditions for producing electro fuels.”- Broghan Helgeson, NorthStarH2’s project manager at Uniper.

Uniper plans to make the final investment decision for NorthStarH2 in 2028. Commissioning is currently scheduled to begin in 2031.

“E-methanol will play an increasingly important role in decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors such as shipping and chemicals. AFRY is honored to support Uniper in transforming this vision into a technically robust and investment-ready project.” – Guy Skantze, SVP and Head of Segment Chemicals & Biorefining at Afry.

“E-methanol has an important role to play in decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors. Uniper’s focus on robust Front-End Engineering Design provides a strong foundation for NorthStarH2, and we are pleased to contribute Carbon Clean’s carbon capture expertise.” – Aniruddha Sharma, Co-Founder and CEO of Carbon Clean.

“The NorthStarH2 project is an important step in advancing the production of e-methanol at industrial scale. Siemens Energy contributes its experience in industrial electrolysis and its proven technology to support the project’s next phase. Our electrolysis solutions combine high efficiency, strong grid integration capabilities, and a focus on safety and ease of service.” – Thorsten Boegel, Siemens Energy’s project manager for the NSH2 FEED.

“The Nordic region is emerging as one of Europe’s most ambitious markets for clean fuels, and Uniper’s NorthStarH2 project is an important part of that momentum. We are proud to contribute our e-methanol technology and engineering expertise to a project that can help accelerate decarbonization in critical sectors such as shipping and chemicals. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Uniper as NorthStarH2 moves toward the next stage of development.” – Yassir Ghiyati, Chief Commercial Officer at Topsoe.

Key Facts

NorthStarH2 will use renewable electricity and biogenic carbon dioxide to produce fossil-free e-methanol.
The plant will produce approximately 115,000 tonnes of e-methanol per year.
The fuel can replace fossil fuels in sectors such as transport and the chemical industry. This can cut emissions and reduce Europe’s dependence on imported fossil fuels.
The contracted suppliers will provide engineering expertise during the FEED phase for electrolysis, carbon capture, methanol synthesis and purification.
Uniper plans to submit its environmental permit application in autumn 2026.

About Uniper

Düsseldorf-based Uniper is a European energy company with global reach. It has about 7,000 employees and plays a key role in ensuring a secure energy supply in Europe, particularly in its core markets of Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and the Netherlands. Uniper’s 18.5 gigawatts of power generating capacity make it a mainstay of reliable power production. Uniper is a leading gas trader and one of Northwestern Europe’s most important LNG importers, and its broad procurement portfolio enhances supply security. Uniper’s investments in renewables, hydrogen, and other low-carbon energy carriers propel the transformation of the energy system.

Uniper provides energy and services to about 1,000 municipalities and industrial companies in its home market, Germany. Uniper is also Germany’s largest operator of gas storage facilities and hydropower plants.