Zurich-headquartered H2 Energy has awarded Denmark’s Cowi the front-end engineering design contract (FEED) for a 1GW hydrogen plant in Esbjerg, Denmark, ahead of H2’s final investment decision on the plant due in March next year.

If built, the plant would be the largest in Denmark.

H2 said the contract, valued at what it described as a “two-digit million sum”, obliges Cowi during the first quarter of 2024 to report on the detailed costs and technical requirements for building the €1bn plant.

Its construction would create 700 new jobs in Esbjerg over the three-year build period.

H2 Energy project director Julian O’Connell called the award “a significant step for the development of the project” that showed his firm’s commitment.

“We are convinced that Denmark is also dedicated to establish the necessary hydrogen infrastructure by 2027 that enables the investment so that we can supply both Denmark and Germany with hydrogen for a greener future,” he said.

Klaus Winther Ringgaard, a senior vice president at Cowi, called the award a “bold and a strong signal that commercial players are ready to commit to the next phase of the green transition”.

“Cowi is concerned that the transition is getting up to speed, and therefore we are also incredibly proud that H2 Energy has entrusted us with an important role in this key project,” he said.