Decarbonisation Technology - May 2023 Issue

in the range $1,200-2,400/t (Zhang, 2019), (Chaplin, 2013). The future cost of green hydrogen production mainly depends on further reductions in the cost of renewable power generation and electrolysis, and gains in efficiency and durability. With anticipated decreases in renewable power prices, e-methanol costs are expected to decrease at rates of $250-630/t by 2050. As in the case of bio-methanol, the co-production of brown/grey (fossil) and green e-methanol could allow the gradual introduction of green e-methanol at a reasonable cost. Currently, the main barrier to renewable methanol uptake is its higher cost than fossil fuel-based alternatives, and that cost differential will persist for some time. Its value lies in its emissions reduction potential compared to existing options. There are many research groups working on CO 2-to-methanol conversion. The field is rapidly evolving, and new breakthroughs are being made all the time Addressing process differences and facilitating the scale-up of production and use can help reduce costs but will require a variety of policy interventions. With the right support mechanisms and the best production conditions, renewable methanol could approach the current cost and price of methanol from fossil fuels. Different groups are developing efficient and cost-effective methods to carry out this conversion. While this process has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and produce a useful fuel, it is still in its early stages of development and has yet to be implemented on a large scale. Several research groups around the world are working on CO₂-to-methanol conversion, and it is difficult to say which one is more advanced as each group has its unique approach and research focus. However, here are a few examples of prominent research groups in this field:  Researchers at the University of Cambridge in the UK have developed a process that uses a copper catalyst to convert CO 2 to methanol using hydrogen gas. Their process is highly

efficient and has the potential to be scaled up for industrial use.  Researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California, USA, have developed a hybrid catalyst that can selectively convert CO 2 to methanol with high efficiency. Their catalyst is made from copper oxide and platinum and operates at low temperatures, which reduces energy requirements.  Researchers at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology in South Korea have developed a process that combines CO 2 reduction with wastewater treatment. Their process uses a microbial electrochemical system to convert CO 2 to methanol while simultaneously treating wastewater. Carbon Recycling International (CRI) developed its Emissions-to-Liquids process using a copper-zinc-alumninium oxide catalyst for the direct hydrogenation of CO 2 to methanol at temperatures as low as 200ºC . CRI recently announced a long-term catalyst supply agreement with Johnson Matthey, giving CRI access to JM’s Katalco methanol catalyst (Johnson Matthey, 2021). These are just a few examples of the many research groups working on CO 2 -to-methanol conversion. The field is rapidly evolving, and new breakthroughs are being made all the time. Here are some more examples of the economics of CO 2 -to-methanol conversion: • Carbon Clean Solutions in India has developed a CO 2 capture technology to capture CO 2 emissions from industrial processes and convert them into methanol. The company estimates that its technology can produce methanol at around $150 per ton, which is competitive with traditional methanol production processes. The company is planning to build a commercial-scale plant with a capacity of 10,000 tons per year. • In the US, CRI has developed a CO 2 -to- methanol conversion process that uses renewable energy sources such as geothermal and hydroelectric power to generate the required electricity and hydrogen. The company estimates that its process can produce methanol at around $ 600 per ton, which is higher than the current market price for methanol but competitive with traditional methanol production processes. • Researchers at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics in China have developed a new