Methanol: A Future Transport Fuel based on Hydrogen and Carbon Dioxide?
Overview
Background & policy context:
One of the main reasons for considering the widespread use of methanol as an alternative fuel for transport is that of mitigating carbon dioxide emissions by means of conversion and fixation in value-added products. The possible use of carbon dioxide for methanol production contributes to the currently increasing perception that carbon dioxide can be considered as an abundant and renewable source for several applications in chemical synthesis.
Methanol can be efficiently produced from a wide variety of sources including still available fossil fuels (coal, oil shale, tar sands, etc.) by improved methods, as well as from agricultural products (municipal and industrial wastes, wood, among others varied biomass). Additionally, methanol can also be produced in a new route from chemical recycling of carbon dioxide based on the utilisation of high concentrations of CO2-rich gas streams derivate from fossil fuel burning power plants or exhausts of cement, fermentation, and other industrial plants such as: aluminium and iron ore smelters, etc.
Promising new technologies for effective conversion of atmospheric CO2 to methanol that need to be addressed and evaluated in this study are currently under development, not only for recycling of the greenhouse gas but also for an efficient production of fuel alternatives.
Finally, the use of methanol in the transport sector also requires a series of changes, among other things to vehicles (internal combustion engine or fuel cell) and the distribution chain, which have to be taken into account for an overall evaluation of the suitability of methanol use.
Although methanol is already commercially used for some transport application, for example in the production of biodiesel, the greatest future demand is expected to come from fuel cell vehicles. In this context, it has to be kept in mind that methanol is toxic and inflammable, a fact that needs to be adequately considered during storage, handling and final use.
Objectives:
The study is focused on the following areas of investigation:
Methanol Production
Here the study aims at identifying what are the current methods of production and what new production methods which are currently being planned for the future, and which are the most promising ones which should be explored in the longer term considering on the latest scientific and technology advances.
The study will then compare the advantages and the drawbacks of the different production methods. For the most advanced technologies which are based on the latest scientific developments, a special focus should be put on the long term prospects regarding their feasibility from an industrial production perspective for both for limited strategic use and for massive rollout purposes.
Use of methanol in the transport sector
The study will analyse what are the technical implications of the use methanol for transport purposes as a possible substitute or an add on for gasoline and diesel. The study should identify to what extent Methanol can be used with the current generation of engines designed for operating with gasoline and diesel. It should also identify what are the technological options to adapt the current generation of engines to operate partially or totally with Methanol. The study will also look at the possible advantages and drawbacks of using Methanol in hybrid electrical engines.
Methodology:
The study is divided into three phases:
- a first phase, dedicated to the analysis and elaboration of the state of the art on production, distribution and exploitation technologies for methanol in the transport sector
- a second phase, in which an expert panel will be conducted in order to obtain a qualitative assessment of the different research approaches with regard to product maturity, cost, timeframes for market introduction and other relevant parameters to be identified by the experts ( such as security, safety, engine compatibility and performance, end user behaviour and resistance to change).
- a third phase that, also on the basis of the expert panel conclusions, will carry out the economic analysis of the methanol use for transport purposes. A final study report will be released, including the policy options for the exploitation of this fuel.
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