Skip to main content

Synthesis of methanol from captured carbon dioxide using surplus electricity

Objective

Methanol represents one of the most common and widespread platform chemicals and precursors for further synthesis, and is traditionally produced from synthesis gas, obtained by the reforming of natural gas. This methanol synthesis process operates in a stable, high-throughput manner and demands low carbon dioxide/carbon monoxide ratios in feed. The current project, nonetheless, is to encompass flexible (in operation and feed) methanol synthesis with high carbon dioxide concentration-streams as an input, the latter originating from thermal power stations using fossil fuels. The demonstrational technology may alternatively be intended for the application of existing biomass combustion and gasification system streams, operating for the production of electric/thermal energy, as opposed to chemical synthesis. The other synthesis reactant, hydrogen, is to originate from water hydrolysis using surplus energy, which would be conversely difficult to return to the grid. The three main benefits of the process would thus be as follows; the mitigation of exhaust carbon dioxide and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (1), stabilisation of electric grid by the consumption of the electric energy at its peaks (2), and the production of methanol as a versatile chemical for further conversion (3). Implications of such technology would have a strong connection to the pending exploration of alternative energy carriers and their synthesis as opposed to conventional resources of fuels and chemicals. The principal technological challenge to be overcome is anticipated to be the development of a suitable catalyst and process, which would allow for high-CO2-content feeds, relatively transient operation (save for an upstream buffering technology is developed), and economically viable operating conditions. The primary advantages of this technology are to be its flexibility, medium-scale operation (deployed “at exhaust location”), and facile integration capacities.

Call for proposal

H2020-SPIRE-2014-2015

See other projects for this call

Sub call

H2020-SPIRE-2014

Coordinator

I-DEALS INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY VENTURING SERVICES SL
Net EU contribution
€ 922 249,60
Address
Av. Manoteras 52
28050 Madrid
Spain

See on map

Region
Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 395 250,40

Participants (9)

Third-party

Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.

NTT DATA SPAIN, SL
Spain
Net EU contribution
€ 120 083,10
Address
Camino Fuente De La Mora 1
28050 Madrid

See on map

Region
Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 51 799,90
KEMIJSKI INSTITUT
Slovenia
Net EU contribution
€ 1 195 300,00
Address
Hajdrihova 19
1000 Ljubljana

See on map

Region
Slovenija Zahodna Slovenija Osrednjeslovenska
Activity type
Research Organisations
Other funding
€ 0,00
MITSUBISHI POWER EUROPE GMBH
Germany
Net EU contribution
€ 1 017 625,00
Address
Schifferstrasse 80
47059 Duisburg

See on map

Region
Nordrhein-Westfalen Düsseldorf Duisburg, Kreisfreie Stadt
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 436 125,00
CARDIFF UNIVERSITY
United Kingdom
Net EU contribution
€ 641 858,75
Address
Newport Road 30 36
CF24 0DE Cardiff

See on map

Region
Wales East Wales Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00
CRI EHF
Iceland
Net EU contribution
€ 1 751 625,40
Address
Holtasmara 1
201 Kopavogur

See on map

SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Ísland Ísland Höfuðborgarsvæði
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 750 696,60
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI GENOVA
Italy
Net EU contribution
€ 493 012,50
Address
Via Balbi 5
16126 Genova

See on map

Region
Nord-Ovest Liguria Genova
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00
HYDROGENICS EUROPE NV
Belgium
Net EU contribution
€ 1 545 038,25
Address
Nijverheidsstraat 48c
2260 Westerlo

See on map

SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Vlaams Gewest Prov. Antwerpen Arr. Turnhout
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 662 159,25
UNIVERSITAET DUISBURG-ESSEN
Germany
Net EU contribution
€ 585 500,00
Address
Universitatsstrasse 2
45141 Essen

See on map

Region
Nordrhein-Westfalen Düsseldorf Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00
RWE POWER AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Germany
Net EU contribution
€ 350 000,00
Address
Rwe Platz 2
45141 Essen

See on map

Region
Nordrhein-Westfalen Düsseldorf Essen, Kreisfreie Stadt
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 150 000,00