Growing concern about global climate change due to anthropogenic GHG emissions has prompted governments, policymakers, industry, and scientists to start actively looking for ways to “green” their activities. In this context, renewable methanol produced sustainably can be part of the pathway to eventually achieve the decarbonization of the chemical and transport sectors. Ultra-low-carbon or net carbon-neutral renewable methanol can be produced from a variety of sources.
Renewable methanol (normally called "bio-methanol") produced from biomass such as forestry and agricultural waste and byproducts, biogas, sewage, municipal solid waste (MSW), and black liquor from the pulp and paper industry.
By comparison, when obtained from carbon dioxide and green hydrogen produced with renewable electricity, it is generally called “e-methanol”.
Bio-methanol and e-methanol from renewable sources and processes are chemically identical to fossil fuel-based methanol but give rise to significantly lower GHG emissions during the entire life cycle. In addition, the use of renewable methanol can reduce dependency on fossil energy imports and stimulate local economies.
Interest in renewable methanol is being driven by the need to mitigate climate change by substantially reducing or eliminating CO2 emissions, and in particular by the growing focus on holding the average global temperature rise to no more than 1.5°C.
This implies achieving net carbon neutral emissions across all sectors of the economy by mid-century. Low-emission methanol could play a larger role in de-carbonizing certain sectors where options are currently limited – particularly as a feedstock in the chemical industry or as a fuel in road or marine transport.
