Vattenfall and Preem to investigate large scale decarbonization using offshore wind and hydrogen

Vattenfall and Preem will now enter into a feasibility phase to assess the possibility of accelerating the development of a value chain connecting offshore wind and hydrogen with the refining industry on the Swedish west coast to swiftly transform to fossil-free fuels, starting latest 2030.

Vattenfall sees a huge potential to decarbonize industries like refining, petrochemicals, steel, and fertilizers by using fossil-free electricity and hydrogen. Preem and Vattenfall believe that in order to strengthening Sweden’s position as a frontrunner in the emerging markets of fossil-free fuels and materials, new partnerships between fossil-free energy suppliers and decarbonizing industries and innovative cooperations are needed.

On the Swedish west coast there is a highly specialised refinery and petrochemicals industry, great potential for offshore wind power and a strong desire to transform throughout the region. With the recently announced plans by Swedish TSO (Svenska Kraftnät) to expand the transmission network to areas, like the Swedish west coast, within Sweden’s maritime territory, an important framework is set to realize such ambitions.

Preem is Sweden’s largest fuel company and has begun its transition from fossil fuels to a renewable and climate neutral value chain in 2035. Fossil-free hydrogen enables both decarbonization of the refineries and an increased production of renewable fuels such as HVO, renewable gasoline and sustainable aviation fuels. An increased supply of fossil-free hydrogen also enables Preem to explore the development of e-fuels for hard-to decarbonize segments like aviation and maritime.