Green Methanol: Gateway to Energy transition

Green methanol is methanol that is produced renewably and without polluting emissions, one of its variants being generated from green hydrogen. This chemical compound can be used as a low-carbon liquid fuel and is a promising alternative to fossil fuels in areas where decarbonization is a major challenge, such as maritime transport.

What is green methanol?

Methanol (CH?OH), also known as methyl alcohol, is a chemical compound in great demand due to its many industrial application : as a solvent, antifreeze, in building materials and in the production of synthetic fuels, among others. As a light liquid at room temperature, it is easy to transport and store. To date, the vast majority of methanol produced is generated from natural gas, which links it directly to greenhouse gas emissions. The advent of green methanol from?clean energy sources?is intended to give a major boost to this compound, making it a?promising alternative to fossil fuels?in reducing the?carbon footprint?of high emitting industries such as maritime transport.

Grey, blue and green methanol

Like other compounds or materials, methanol is nowadays classified according to the?degree of sustainability of its production process, making it a more or less environmentally friendly raw material, and therefore more or less useful for?Green Methanol: Gateway to Energy transition in shipping

Green methanol is methanol that is produced renewably and without polluting emissions, one of its variants being generated from green hydrogen. This chemical compound can be used as a low-carbon liquid fuel and is a promising alternative to fossil fuels in areas where decarbonization is a major challenge, such as maritime transport.

What is green methanol?

Methanol (CH?OH), also known as methyl alcohol, is a chemical compound in great demand due to its many industrial application : as a solvent, antifreeze, in building materials and in the production of synthetic fuels, among others. As a light liquid at room temperature, it is easy to transport and store. To date, the vast majority of methanol produced is generated from natural gas, which links it directly to greenhouse gas emissions. The advent of green methanol from clean energy sources is intended to give a major boost to this compound, making it a promising alternative to fossil fuels in reducing the carbon footprint of high emitting industries such as maritime transport.

Grey, blue and green methanol

Like other compounds or materials, methanol is nowadays classified according to the degree of sustainability of its production process, making it a more or less environmentally friendly raw material, and therefore more or less useful for contributing to decarbonisation. Thus, we must clearly distinguish green methanol from blue or grey methanol.

Grey methanol: It is obtained by synthesis reaction from methane present in natural gas (or in some cases, as in China, still from coal). It is therefore not a renewable or clean energy.

Blue methanol: It is also obtained by synthesis derived from natural gas, but includes as part of the process the capture and storage of the carbon generated during its production, converting it into a less polluting product.

Green methanol: It is produced using only renewable energy sources in the process and ensuring that no harmful gases are emitted into the atmosphere. Green methanol is thus synonymous with clean, renewable methanol.

? Bio-methanol: produced from the gasification of sustainable biomass sources such as livestock, agricultural and forestry residues and municipal waste.

? e-methanol: produced from hydrogen produced from renewable electricity (what we call green hydrogen) and captured carbon dioxide.

From green hydrogen to green methanol

Green hydrogen is present on the roadmap of any of the economic and political actors responsible for tackling the current energy crisis and facilitating compliance with the zero emissions targets set for 2050. Now, the interest in green methanol production opens up a new growth opportunity for the green hydrogen sector for e-methanol generation. Green hydrogen is generated through a chemical process known as electrolysis, which uses electric current to separate hydrogen from the oxygen in water. When this electricity is obtained from renewable sources, such as a wind or photovoltaic farm, we will produce energy without emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. If the hydrogen from these renewable sources is synthesized together with the captured carbon dioxide - in a biomass power plant after the pyrolysis process - renewable methanol or e-methanol can be distilled.

USES OF GREEN METHANOL

The expansion of green methanol as an alternative fuel to fossil fuels is particularly attractive to the maritime industry because, being liquid at room temperature, it is much less costly to store and transport than gaseous fuels, and has the lowest carbon footprint of all liquid fuels. It can also be used in both internal propulsion engines and to power fuel cells, providing flexibility depending on individual needs.

. Thus, we must clearly distinguish green methanol from blue or grey methanol.

Grey methanol: It is obtained by synthesis reaction from methane present in natural gas (or in some cases, as in China, still from coal). It is therefore not a renewable or clean energy.

Blue methanol: It is also obtained by synthesis derived from natural gas, but includes as part of the process the capture and storage of the carbon generated during its production, converting it into a less polluting product.

Green methanol: It is produced using only renewable energy sources in the process and ensuring that no harmful gases are emitted into the atmosphere. Green methanol is thus synonymous with clean, renewable methanol.

·???Bio-methanol:?produced from the gasification of sustainable biomass sources such as livestock, agricultural and forestry residues and municipal waste.

·??e-methanol:?produced from hydrogen produced from renewable electricity and captured carbon dioxide.

From green hydrogen to green methanol

Green hydrogen is present on the roadmap of any of the economic and political actors responsible for tackling the current energy crisis and facilitating compliance with?the zero emissions targets?set for 2050. Now,?the interest in green methanol production opens up a new growth opportunity for the green hydrogen sector?for e-methanol generation.?Green hydrogen is generated through a chemical process known as electrolysis, which uses electric current to separate hydrogen from the oxygen in water. When this electricity is obtained from renewable sources, such as a wind or photovoltaic farm, we will produce energy without emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. If the hydrogen from these renewable sources is synthesized together with the captured carbon dioxide - in a biomass power plant after the pyrolysis process?- renewable methanol or e-methanol can be distilled.

USES OF GREEN METHANOL

The expansion of green methanol as an alternative fuel to fossil fuels is particularly attractive to the maritime industry because, being?liquid at room temperature, it is much less costly to store and transport than gaseous fuels, and has the lowest carbon footprint of all liquid fuels. It can also be used in both internal propulsion engines and to power fuel cells, providing flexibility depending on individual needs.