eMethanol

eMethanol

A fossil-free liquid eFuel

Electrofuels, also known as eFuels, are gaining ground as sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. In essence, they are synthetic fuels based on hydrogen (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2). They can be produced in either gas (example: e-hydrogen or e-methane) or liquid form (example: e-diesel or eMethanol).  

At Liquid Wind, we are focused on developing facilities that will deliver electrofuel in form of liquid eMethanol.

Key sustainability aspects of eFuels

  • The primary factor that distinguishes eFuels from traditional fossil fuels is the use of renewable energy sources in their production. eFuels are typically produced using electricity generated from renewable sources like solar, wind, or hydropower. This reliance on clean energy contributes to reducing the carbon footprint associated with the production of these fuels.

  • When produced using renewable energy, eFuels can be considered carbon-neutral over their lifecycle. The carbon dioxide emitted during combustion is theoretically offset by the amount of CO2 captured during the production process. This contrasts with conventional fossil fuels, which release additional carbon into the atmosphere when burned.

  • eFuels offer a practical solution for industries and sectors that are challenging to electrify directly, such as shipping, aviation, and certain industrial processes. These sectors often rely on liquid fuels, and eFuels provide a means to decarbonize these hard-to-abate areas, helping achieve broader sustainability goals.

  • eFuels are designed to be compatible with existing infrastructure, including internal combustion engines, gasturbines and fuel distribution networks. This makes them a versatile option for industries that may not be able to transition entirely to electric power in the short term, allowing for a more gradual and feasible shift toward sustainability.

  • Some eFuels, like electro-methanol or eMethanol, can be produced using captured carbon dioxide from industrial processes or directly from the atmosphere. This creates a circular economy approach, where carbon emissions are recycled and repurposed to produce useful fuels, contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

  • Combustion of eFuels typically results in lower emissions of harmful pollutants such as methane, sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter compared to conventional fossil fuels. This aspect enhances air quality and reduces the negative impacts on public health.

  • eFuels can serve as a means of storing renewable energy. They allow for the conversion of surplus electricity generated during periods of high renewable energy production into chemical energy, which can be stored and used when renewable energy generation is low or unavailable. This addresses the intermittent of some renewable energy sources.

  • Some eFuels, like eMethanol, are liquid at ambient temperature and pressure, making them easy to transport and store using existing infrastructure such as pipelines, trucks, ships, and rail. This characteristic enhances their practicality and ease of integration into current energy systems.

Why eMethanol? 

Electrofuel facilities developed by Liquid Wind are built to produce eMethanol.  

Why? eMethanol is a very versatile commodity that can be used as a fuel for vehicles, in fuel cells, for electricity generation, and as a feedstock in the chemical industry. Since Methanol already has an established infrastructure for production, storage, and distribution, eMethanol can also potentially be integrated into existing systems more easily compared to some other electrofuels. 

But more importantly: With access to renewable energy from wind, solar or hydropower, and fossil free CO2 captured from biofueled power plants, our facilities can produce green methanol that has a significantly reduced carbon footprint compared to conventional methanol derived from fossil fuels. This considerably contributes to efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change, offering hard-to-abate sectors like shipping a way to reach their sustainability goals. 

Read about the advantages of eMethanol as a green hydrogen carrier here

Production process

The eMethanol made in our eFuel facilities is produced through a Power-to-Liquid (PtL) process, using the following steps:

Electrolysis: An electrolyser, powered by renewable energy (such as wind, solar, or hydropower), splits water into oxygen and hydrogen. The hydrogen is used as the primary feedstock for the eMethanol production. The oxygen that is formed as a by-product, can either be released into the atmosphere or captured and supplied to local industry.

Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU): Biogenic carbon dioxide is captured from a variety of industrial flue gases, purified, concentrated, and transferred to the nearby eFuel production facility.

eMethanol synthesis: The hydrogen produced by electrolysis and the biogenic carbon dioxide are mixed in a compressor. Thereafter, eMethanol is formed in a synthesis reactor. The following step is to concentrate the liquid eMethanol in a distillation process.

Product refinement: The final eMethanol product undergoes additional refinement to meet specific quality standards for its intended use.

Electrification of shipping by eFuel

Phasing out fossil fuels and replacing them with electrofuel is an important piece of the puzzle to reach a fossil-independent maritime vehicle fleet in 2050. Electrofuel is notably important in sectors that are otherwise difficult to electrify.

Electrofuel is fossil-free and renewable, it can be implemented rapidly to accelerate the industry’s green transition, and it meets rigorous environmental standards from the start. It is also safe to store and easy to distribute.

While coastal shipping can be electrified using battery power, the bulk of global shipping – with its long transport distances – requires liquid electrofuel. In contrast to biofuels, which are constrained by the limited availability of raw materials needed in their production processes, electrofuel has the capacity to achieve the scalability needed to power global shipping.

Several shipping companies have successfully proven that methanol is a viable fuel and e-methanol is increasingly viewed as an accessible solution to enable emission reductions and meet sustainability targets.

Looking to accelerate your carbon neutral transition?

We would love to discuss your needs and how we can support you to meet your sustainability goals and improve your value proposition.