e-methanol—liquid electricity
Hydrogen is problematic to store and transport, unless it is:
1) Liquified (an energy-intensive process);
2) Injected as a gas it into a pipeline;
3) Converted to methanol, a clear liquid chemical at ambient temperature and pressure comprising four parts hydrogen, one part oxygen and one part carbon.
1) Liquified (an energy-intensive process);
2) Injected as a gas it into a pipeline;
3) Converted to methanol, a clear liquid chemical at ambient temperature and pressure comprising four parts hydrogen, one part oxygen and one part carbon.
Water soluble and biodegradable, hydrogen-intensive methanol is the world's most commonly shipped chemical commodity, having been stored, transported and handled safely for over 100 years. Produced with renewable electricity and upcycled carbon dioxide, e-methanol can be readily reformed into RH2 at its destination through a catalytic process using a fuel reformer. Other fuels can be reformed into hydrogen as well, but they require considerably higher temperatures, greater energy and are not as environmentally benign—making e-methanol the ultimate carrier of RH2. Given that renewable electricity comprises 75% the production costs of RH2, and that e-methanol is almost entirely RH2, we think of e-methanol as "liquid electricity".
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With our Sundance Hydrogen project, RH2C and partners will adopt approach 2) above: Injecting RH2 into the nearby Enbridge pipeline to blend it with natural gas for delivery to the Metro Vancouver market. With subsequent projects, however, RH2C and partners have the option of adopting approach 3) above: Converting RH2 into e-methanol, which can be safely delivered to markets in the US by rail or to Asia by rail and ship. Methanol can be easily dispensed via the existing global gasoline/diesel fueling infrastructure. Adding methanol as a fuel choice at an existing gas station will require little more than converting an existing tank (mid-grade fuel, for example) to methanol. Compared to introducing comparable hydrogen delivery systems, this can be done at very low cost : about US$ 50,000-75,000 for such installations. Dispenser technology is readily available. Legislation in countries around the world to curtail carbon emissions and other forms of pollution, as well as technological advances with fuel cells and electrolyzers, for example, are steadily increasing the global presence of e-methanol, both as a fuel and as an RH2 carrier. |
Click here for a comprehensive presentation on e-methanol as a renewable hydrogen carrier. As the presentation notes, the existing and potential uses of e-methanol are numerous, including: • Blendstock for other liquid fuels, such as gasoline; • Standalone fuel for ICE vehicles (M100); • Marine fuel; • Fuel for methanol fuel cells used as an EV range extender; • Fuel for methanol fuel cells used for power generation. Drilling down into the link above, RH2C is compelled to highlight two Danish companies that embrace e-methanol's role as an RH2 carrier and have developed methanol fuel cell technologies that could change the energy world. |
Blue World Technologies is an advanced developer and manufacturer of methanol fuel cells and their integration systems for use in mobility and automotive applications. Blue World's methanol fuel cells are implemented in a hybrid configuration complementing a battery system. By combining the two technologies both can be downsized considerably so that only a relatively small battery pack and fuel cell are required. Blue World methanol fuel cells can extend the range of an EV to over 1000 km, a remarkable achievement. Blue World is moving fast: in September 2019 it broke ground on the world's largest methanol fuel cell factory and in November 2019 it signed an agreement with Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer AIWAYS to supply the market with methanol fuel cell vehicles for fast refuelling and long range.
Click here to watch a series of Blue World Technologies videos that presents their vision for methanol.
Click here to watch a series of Blue World Technologies videos that presents their vision for methanol.
SerEnergy is a world-leading developer and supplier of methanol-based fuel cell solutions for green, scalable on-demand power generation. Their low-maintenance fuel cell systems are ideal for critical backup power, temporary or continuous 24/7 power can can operate in on- and off-grid applications.
RH2C and partners are rolling out our first production facility, Sundance Hydrogen, to supply FortisBC with RH2 to blend into BC's natural gas pipeline network. There is domestic demand for several such RH2 plants. But as for the burgeoning RH2 export market, there is no doubt in our minds that e-methanol--liquid electricity—represents the most energy-efficient, cost-effective means of meeting international demand for RH2.