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• With the CO2-to-methanol route gaining more interest, what emerging technology do you see accelerating this interest?

  Feb-2023

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Answers

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• Joris Mertens, KBC (A Yokogawa Company), joris.mertens@kbcglobal

  For CO2-to-methanol, the primary accelerator will not be technical but rather a market pricing strategy based on the carbon intensity of the methanol product. In brief, ‘green’ methanol needs a higher price. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set a 50% emission reduction target for shipping that will require the use of low-carbon fuels. In addition to being more technically mature, the e-methanol and bio-methanol paths are easier to apply to existing shipping infrastructure. In their energy transition outlook, DNV predicts e-methanol demand for bunkering will reach 360 and 1800 PJ in 2030 and 2050, respectively, which corresponds with 18 and 90 million tonnes per year.

  Regulations are crucial, with technical developments important as well. On the one hand, renewable electricity and the development of electrolyser technology can reduce hydrogen costs. On the other hand, the well-established methanol synthesis technology needs to be further developed, particularly the methanol synthesis catalyst. Conventional methanol synthesis uses a syngas mixture rich in CO, not CO2. E-methanol technology will evolve faster if stable and selective catalysts tailored to CO2/H2 feeds are developed. They will reduce the yield of lower value by-products, as well as the capital cost (for example, reactor size) and operating cost (for example, reduced recycling of unconverted product). Reducing operating costs will reduce the carbon intensity of the process, which may further increase the product value.

  The final parameters in the equation are the price and availability of CO2, which will be determined both by regulations and cost reductions through further technological developments. CO2 captured from large point sources is likely to be used over the short and medium terms as it will become more readily available at lower costs. Ultimately, however, CO2 from direct air capture should be the preferred CO2 source.

   

  Feb-2023