Molslinjen

Investeringsstøtte til CO₂-intensive virksomheder (2025)

Molslinjen is Denmark’s largest ferry operator and a central player in national mobility. Its high-speed catamarans on the Kattegat route are among the country’s most energy-intensive transport assets, carrying over three million passengers each year.

1st Mile’s work with Molslinjen

In 2025, 1st Mile secured DKK 180 million in investment support for Molslinjen under the Investeringsstøtte til CO₂-intensive virksomheder scheme of the Danish Energy Agency.
This scheme supports companies that are heavily affected by the new Danish CO₂ tax and provides funding for fossil-fuel-reducing projects, with grants depending on documented CO₂ savings.

Project description

The grant enables Molslinjen to replace its three diesel-powered fast ferries on the Aarhus-Odden route with three battery-electric catamarans as part of a total investment of roughly DKK 3.5 billion. Once all three vessels enter operation, the route is expected to cut emissions by approximately 132,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually while maintaining the 90-minute crossing time and increasing passenger and vehicle capacity. The electrified connection will become one of the fastest fully electric ferry routes in the world.

Why the project stands out

High-speed ferry operations are particularly challenging to electrify due to their energy requirements, operational patterns and downtime constraints. To qualify for the scheme, Molslinjen had to document detailed before/after energy baselines, demonstrate the additional cost of the zero-emission solution, and comply with strict state-aid and emissions-calculation rules.

1st Mile’s contribution

1st Mile guided Molslinjen through the full strategy and documentation process, ensuring the project met all technical and financial requirements of the grant.
The resulting approval of DKK 180 million reflects both the scale of the electrification effort and the strength of the submitted case.