[ e-methanol ]
��������� ��������� ���� |
������� |
|
|
|
������������������� |
|
|
� �
�� �
|
�������� ���������� |
��������� ���������� |
������������ |
����� �������� |
����������
�������� �����
������ ���
Figure 1 . Block flow diagram of the e-methanol production process
approximately 100 million tons in 2023 . About two-thirds of this production is used to synthesize other essential chemical compounds , such as formaldehyde , acetic acid , and methyl methacrylate . Methanol also plays a critical role in the production of olefins via the methanol-to-olefins ( MTO ) route . These intermediates are subsequently transformed into a variety of materials used in everyday life , from paints and plastics to automotive component and building materials .¹
New applications for methanol are also being explored , such as the production of aromatic compounds ( benzene , toluene , and xylene ) via the methanol-to-aromatics ( MTA ) route or its use for sustainable aviation fuel ( SAF ) synthesis via the methanol-to-jet route . However , both technologies are still under development , with methanol-to-jet technology in the final stages of ASTM approval , expected in July 2025 .
Methanol is also gaining traction as a marine fuel , offering a promising decarbonization pathway due to its similarities with conventional fuels . In 2021 , demand for methanol as fuel grew by over 14 %, reflecting increasing interest in its potential as a clean alternative .¹
Cutting emissions using renewable hydrogen
Currently , methanol is almost exclusively produced from fossil fuels , with approximately 65 % of global methanol ( MeOH ) production based on Steam Methane Reforming ( SMR ) using natural gas ( grey methanol ) and the remaining 35 % based on coal gasification ( brown methanol ). The reforming or gasification of these fuels is needed to generate syngas ( a mixture of H 2 and CO ), which is the feedstock for the process . As a result , methanol production is responsible for the emission of approximately 0.3 gigatons ( Gt ) of
CO 2 per year , accounting for 10 % of the chemical sector ’ s total emissions .¹
Therefore , it is necessary to evaluate how this compound can be produced in a more sustainable way . Besides fossil fuels , methanol can be synthetized from renewable sources , following biological routes to produce methanol or by producing synthetic or e-methanol . In this process , hydrogen is obtained via water electrolysis and the CO 2 is captured from biogenic sources . In this case , the methanol produced follows the Power-to-X route and is considered a Renewable Fuel of Non-Biological Origin ( RFNBO ) when , according to the
Hydrogen Tech World | Issue 20 | February 2025 31