Green methanol is a type of methanol that is produced using renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind power, rather than fossil fuels. It is considered a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional methanol, which is typically produced from natural gas or coal. Green methanol can be used as a fuel, solvent, or feedstock for the production of chemicals and other materials. To produce green methanol, carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen gas (H2) are combined in the presence of a catalyst to produce methanol. Hydrogen can be obtained from water through the process of electrolysis, which uses electricity from renewable energy sources to split the water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. CO2 can be obtained from various sources, such as industrial emissions or renewably generated with biomass.

There are several steps involved in the production of green methanol, including:

1. Obtaining hydrogen and carbon dioxide: The hydrogen is typically produced through the process of electrolysis, which uses electricity from renewable sources to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. CO2 can be obtained from industrial emissions, biomass, or other sources.
2. Mixing the hydrogen and carbon dioxide: The hydrogen and CO2 are then mixed together in the appropriate proportions to produce methanol.
3. Catalytic conversion: The mixture is then passed over a catalyst, which facilitates the chemical reaction that produces methanol.
4. Distillation: The resulting mixture of methanol and water is then distilled to separate the methanol from the water.

Some common catalysts used in the production of green methanol include copper, zinc, and aluminium. Specialized process equipment, such as reactors, distillation columns, and separators, is also used in the production process.

Read more into thyssenkrupp’s technology for the production of green methanol – Link

Green methanol has a wide range of applications, including:

• Fuel: Methanol can be used as a fuel for internal combustion engines, either on its own or blended with gasoline. Besides LNG and ammonia, green methanol is also considered a substitute fuel for maritime fuel applications
• Solvent: Methanol is a common solvent for many industrial processes, such as the production of resins, plastics, and pharmaceuticals.
• Chemical feedstock: Methanol can be used as a feedstock for polymer fibres for the textile industry, plastics for packaging, glues, adsorbents/diapers, paints, adhesives, solvents and much more.
• Energy storage: Methanol can be used as a medium for storing excess renewable energy, such as solar or wind power, that can be easily transported and used when needed.
• Fuel cells: Methanol can be used as a fuel in fuel cell technology, which converts the chemical energy of the methanol into electricity through a clean and efficient process.

The main advantage of green methanol is that it is produced using renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind power, rather than fossil fuels, making it a more environmentally friendly option. Other advantages of green methanol include its versatility, as it can be used as a fuel, solvent, or feedstock for the production of other chemicals, and its potential for energy storage. One potential disadvantage of green methanol is that the production process can be expensive and energy-intensive, depending on the source of the hydrogen and CO2. In addition, the use of methanol as a fuel can produce emissions, although these emissions are typically lower than those from gasoline. Finally, methanol is highly toxic and must be handled with care.

Green methanol is a solid concept. However, it is not much popular and funded as Green Hydrogen or Green Ammonia. So it is difficult to predict exactly what the future of green methanol will look like, but it is likely that it will continue to be an important part of the renewable energy mix. As concerns about climate change and air pollution continue to grow, the demand for cleaner, more sustainable fuels is likely to increase, which could drive further research and development in the production of green methanol. It is possible that green methanol could become more widely used in the coming years, potentially even becoming a mainstream fuel by 2050. However, this will depend on a number of factors, such as the cost and availability of renewable energy sources, technological advances in the production process, and government policies and regulations.