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How Is Green Methanol Produced?

The production process of green methanol involves several key stages:

1. Renewable Electricity Generation

Green methanol production begins with generating electricity from renewable sources such

as wind, solar, or hydropower. This electricity powers the electrolysis process.

IEA: Renewables 2023 - https://www.iea.org/reports/renewables-2023

2. Electrolysis for Green Hydrogen

An electrolyser uses this clean electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The

hydrogen (H₂) is captured for methanol synthesis, while oxygen is released back into the

atmosphere.

IRENA: Green Hydrogen - https://www.irena.org/hydrogen

3. Carbon Dioxide Capture

The CO₂ needed for synthesis is captured from sustainable sources, such as biomass power

plants, where emissions are part of the natural carbon cycle rather than from fossil

combustion.

IEA: CO₂ Capture, Utilisation and Storage - https://www.iea.org/topics/carbon-capture-utilisation-and-storage

4. Methanol Synthesis

Hydrogen and carbon dioxide are combined in a synthesis reactor, creating methanol

(CH₃OH) through a catalytic reaction. This methanol is then distilled to remove impurities.

ScienceDirect https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S036031991934317X

5. Storage and Transport

One of green methanol’s key advantages is its liquid state at ambient conditions, making it

easy to store, transport, and integrate with existing fuel infrastructure.

Methanol Institute - https://www.methanol.org/

Carbon Neutral: When produced and combusted in a closed carbon loop, green methanol

can be net-zero in terms of CO₂ emissions.

Air Quality: It produces lower emissions of sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and

particulates compared to diesel or bunker fuel.

Biodiversity: Reducing dependency on fossil fuels helps mitigate climate change, indirectly

protecting ecosystems.

Green methanol’s scalability depends on several factors:

• Availability of low-cost renewable electricity.

• Development of carbon capture infrastructure.

• Policy incentives and regulatory frameworks to make it cost-competitive.

Still, with growing global momentum toward green shipping, hydrogen economies, and net-

zero goals, green methanol stands out as a promising solution.

Conclusion