"The renewableness, high energy storage (hydrogen energy) and carbon dioxide resource utilization of methanol energy provide an optimal path for low-cost development in the energy field to achieve the goal of dual carbon." Wei Anli, secretary-general of the Steering Committee of the Expert Steering Committee for the Promotion and Application of Methanol Vehicles of the Eight Ministries, said.

Since 2019, the industrial authorities of the Chinese government have clarified the promotion and application of methanol vehicles by issuing guidelines, notices, specifications, guidelines and requirements. clarified the definition of methanol vehicles as green products; The application of methanol-fueled ships (including inland shipping vessels) was clarified; The application of methanol fuel cells was clarified; The hydrogen energy refueling site hydrogen production construction is clarified.

At present, China has accumulated rich experience in the field of methanol fuel power combustion applications (methanol vehicles, methanol ships, methanol range extenders, methanol generator sets, methanol fuel cells) and formed a complete industrial system. At the beginning of the 21st century, Geely Automobile took the lead in carrying out the innovative development and industrialization of methanol vehicles with the goal of building a complete methanol vehicle industry system for vehicle enterprises. The methanol vehicle pilot work jointly organized by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Science and Technology has also fully completed the predetermined goals of adaptability, economy, environmental protection, reliability and safety.

It is worth noting that in the process of promoting methanol vehicles and methanol fuel applications, "Why don't foreigners make methanol cars?" Similar questions such as "methanol toxicity" have been raised repeatedly.

In this regard, Wei Anli said that with methanol fuel application technology and innovative manufacturing and large-scale application of methanol vehicles, China's moon is "brighter and rounder" than foreign moons, and it is more sound in technology chain, industrial chain and supply chain, and has richer market promotion experience. In response to the view that "methanol is highly toxic", there are also many professional articles interpreted, and some national standards have a clear definition of methanol toxicity, and some propaganda is misleading.

In Wei Anli's view, whether from the perspective of energy transition, energy security, achieving "carbon neutral" energy, renewable energy or promoting the development of hydrogen energy industry, it is imperative to develop the methanol economy and promote the application of methanol vehicles and methanol fuel.

Wei Anli further explained from 6 aspects:

The first is to develop the application of methanol fuel in the energy transition, with small costs, large results and short cycles, and China has a foundation and advantages. In the unprecedented changes in a century, under the general goal of energy transformation, the development of methanol economy will drive (drive) industrial transformation and upgrading, promote high-quality development, and achieve the "dual carbon" development goal.

The first is to develop the application of methanol fuel in the energy transition, with small costs, large results and short cycles, and China has a foundation and advantages. In the unprecedented changes in a century, under the general goal of energy transformation, the development of methanol economy will drive (drive) industrial transformation and upgrading, promote high-quality development, and achieve the "dual carbon" development goal.

The second is to effectively avoid energy security risks. China belongs to the energy structure of oil shortage, low gas and rich coal, with oil dependence exceeding 70% and natural gas dependence exceeding 50%. This is an objectively existing reality. According to the principle of resource endowment and local energy consumption, methanol fuel is a satisfactory answer to the search for safe and cheap, low-carbon, clean and renewable energy.

The third is the preferred development path for the energy sector to achieve the "dual carbon" goal. Methanol contains 1 carbon, gasoline contains 7-13 carbon, diesel contains 14-22 carbon, as a power combustion fuel, methanol fuel can not only achieve efficient combustion of internal combustion engines, but also reduce harmful emissions, especially carbon and nitrogen oxide emissions.

Fourth, methanol energy is renewable and recyclable. The molecular structure of methanol determines that methanol is a renewable energy source. Renewable energy power generation produces hydrogen, renewable energy power generation captures carbon dioxide resources, and synthesizes methanol through catalysis. The hydrogen in methanol is renewablely produced, and the carbon dioxide resource is reused. It can be said that methanol is not only renewable energy, but also recyclable energy, but also a new energy.

Fifth, methanol fuel is widely used, such as power combustion (automobiles, ships, etc.), thermal combustion (boilers, kilns, agricultural engineering, agricultural and sideline product processing, fruit and vegetable greenhouses, etc.), catalytic oxidative combustion (conventional and specific environment flameless heating guarantee, etc.), electrochemical combustion (fuel cells, etc.).

Sixth, methanol hydrogen storage energy storage is the preferred technical solution for the development of hydrogen energy industry. Methanol is currently the best hydrogen storage carrier recognized by humans. Methanol mass hydrogen storage density 12.5% (125 kg hydrogen/ton methanol); The mass hydrogen storage density of 70MPa high-pressure gas cylinder is about 4%-6%; Low temperature liquid hydrogen (-253 °C), mass hydrogen storage density of about 7%.

Wei Anli introduced that in the development of methanol economic industry construction, methanol preparation and methanol fuel supply are the key to the promotion and application of methanol fuel.

In this context, the "Methanol Energy Preparation Engineering Technology Exchange Conference" will be organized in Beijing at the end of February to systematically introduce methanol preparation technology and engineering schemes with different technical routes; CO2 capture technology solutions; Technical solution of supercapacitor energy storage (for renewable energy curtailment reserves); Technical scheme for skid-mounted methanol preparation; Technical scheme for deep preparation of methanol from high-concentration organic sewage.

In addition, the "Methanol Fuel Cell and On-board Hydrogen Production (Online Hydrogen Production) Application Engineering Technology Exchange Conference" will be held in Guangdong in late March to discuss and promote the application of methanol vehicles.

Originally published on China Automotive News on February 18, 2023