Methanol production in a sustainable, mild and competitive process: concept launch and analysis

Abstract

In this study, we propose a novel process route for the conversion of wet biomass into renewable methanol under unprecedentedly mild reaction conditions, that operates at pressures below 10 bar and temperatures around 200 °C. Unlike conventional thermochemical routes, which require extreme conditions and complex processing steps, our approach follows a previously unexplored pathway via the intermediates formic acid and methyl formate, achieving high single-pass methanol yields. This process offers remarkable flexibility regarding biomass feedstock and is particularly well suited for decentralized applications. By integrating biomass valorization with hydrogen and oxygen from water electrolysis, the need for fossil-based reactants is eliminated, enhancing both sustainability and scalability. A techno-economic assessment demonstrates a high carbon efficiency of 80.0% and competitive methanol production costs between 0.69 and 2.31 € per kg, depending on the scenario. Although still in the early stages of development, the process offers carbon and energy efficiency comparable to biomass gasification- and power-to-methanol technologies, while showing strong potential for further advancement towards practical application and to effectively complement future sustainable methanol production.