New Technology To Produce Green Methanol From Waste

WasteFuel is a leading developer of bio-refineries focused on converting Municipal Solid Waste into low-carbon fuels. On the 19th of September, the company announced the new WasteFuel Methanol Module. A new technology that will significantly accelerate the use of organic waste to produce green methanol. Presented during the UN United Nations General Assembly and New York Climate Week.

Concept

Methanol has quickly emerged as the most cost-effective fossil fuel alternative for shipping companies around the world. Major shipping companies have committed to using methanol to power their vessels. Namely, Maersk, CMA CGM, COSCO, Stena Line, and Proman.

Technology

The WasteFuel Methanol Module design allows to produce up to 100 metric tons per day of fuel-grade methanol from a variety of waste sources including landfill gas and biogas from anaerobic digestion. The process development followed a modular fashion to improve the overall utilization of resources and allow for cost-effective, quick scaling.

Moreover, the company has filed a provisional patent application directly related to the novel approach and unique configuration. The process is engineered to simultaneously wet and dry reform to convert waste into green methanol. The technology will be available for licensing meaning even greater potential for adoption and decarbonization.

When utilized at a commercial scale, the module will produce green methanol fuel that can achieve up to 90% reductions in CO2 and other greenhouse gases and pollutants compared to conventional fuels.

“Green methanol is critically important in decarbonizing global shipping and the supply chains of companies who depend on it. There is also a vast market for green methanol in the petrochemicals space. The WasteFuel Methanol Module will allow WasteFuel and companies who license the technology to convert municipal waste more efficiently into green methanol around the world… Consumer product companies who have made net zero commitments will not be able to meet them without a dramatic expansion of green methanol supply,”
Trevor Neilson, Co-founder, Chairman and CEO of WasteFuel

What’s Ahead?

WasteFuel aims to produce green methanol that is usable in a variety of markets including shipping, marine transport, and petrochemicals, as well as to license its proprietary process to customers across markets, such as waste owners, biorefinery developers, and petrochemical companies.

Existing WasteFuel Methanol efforts include a commercial-scale partnership with Maersk, who has announced their intent to purchase 30,000 tons per year of bio-methanol.

Nonetheless, their available solutions go beyond green methanol. The company has several biorefinery projects underway that will produce low-carbon fuels to revolutionize mobility across the transportation sector and address the climate emergency.

Source: WasteFuel