Project description
New technology for electrically produced methanol
Conventional methods of methanol production contribute to global warming and ocean acidification. The EU-funded NextFuel project aims to introduce a new approach to methanol production by piloting the use of an electrically heated steam methane reformer (eSMR) instead of the conventional method, which involves firing natural gas in a fired reformer. This innovative method is backed by solid scientific research and has been successfully demonstrated in laboratory prototypes. It enables the design of compact reactors up to 100 times smaller than current steam methane reformer (SMR) plants, resulting in higher energy efficiency and no direct CO2 emissions. Consequently, it presents a commercially attractive option for synthesis gas production. The solution is cost-efficient, scalable, and offers a realistic alternative to fossil-based methanol production.
Objective
The basis of our innovation is to pilot a novel approach to producing methanol, never before piloted beyond our project partners lab scale prototype, where we use an electrically heated stream methane reformer (eSMR) instead of present firing of natural gas in the fired reformer (used in conventional methanol synthesis). The scientific background of the innovation is solid. We have a successful lab prototype and many publications describing parts of the work in journals including Science. The eSMR technology can allow very compact reactor designs, up to 100 times smaller than current SMR plants, which combined with higher energy efficiency and no directly associated CO2 emission, makes the eSMR reactor extremely commercially attractive for synthesis gas production. The technology is also well suited to add additional hydrogen and CO2 to increase production. The cost-efficient (we target a similar cost level as biogas) and scalable (in addition relevance or thousands of biogas sites, we can scale through adding hydrogen and CO2) solution can be built as a realistic alternative to fossil methanol production. In the project Topsoe delivers the process plant to Gasnor (both a biogas owner and Norway´s largest provider of LNG) that in turn want to market sustainable ship fuels. We have a first customer in the project, that are currently building two feeder container vessels running on methanol (one of Europe´s leading ship owners Wilhelmsen, participating through their sustainable shipping unit TOPEKA). With the assistance on leading research groups covering both optimizing resource streams (NTNU) and ecosystem simulations (CERTH), we develop a comprehensive plan to pathways of bringing eSMR-based plant designs to efficient and widespread use in Europa.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry alcohols
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry aliphatic compounds
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.2.5 - Climate, Energy and Mobility
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme -
HORIZON.2.5.2 - Energy Supply
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-IA - HORIZON Innovation Actions
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL5-2023-D3-01
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
4299 AVALDSNES
Norway
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.