\t\t\tWhat is green methanol?<\/p>\n
Methanol (CH\u2083OH), also known as methyl alcohol, is a chemical compound in great demand due to its many industrial applications: as a solvent, antifreeze, in building materials and in the production of synthetic fuels, among others. As a light liquid at room temperature, it is easy to transport and store. To date, the vast majority of methanol produced is generated from natural gas, which links it directly to greenhouse gas emissions. The advent of green methanol from clean energy sources<\/a> is intended to give a major boost to this compound, making it a promising alternative to fossil fuels in reducing the carbon footprint<\/a> of high emitting industries such as maritime transport.<\/p>\n Grey, blue and green methanol<\/p>\n Like other compounds or materials, methanol is nowadays classified according to the degree of sustainability of its production process, making it a more or less environmentally friendly raw material, and therefore more or less useful for contributing to decarbonisation<\/a>. Thus, we must clearly distinguish green methanol from blue or grey methanol.<\/p>\n \u00a0Grey methanol<\/p>\n It is obtained by synthesis reaction from methane present in natural gas (or in some cases, as in China, still from coal). It is therefore not a renewable or clean energy.<\/p>\n \u00a0Blue methanol<\/p>\n It is also obtained by synthesis derived from natural gas, but includes as part of the process the capture and storage of the carbon generated during its production, converting it into a less polluting product.<\/p>\n \u00a0Green methanol<\/p>\n It is produced using only renewable energy sources in the process and ensuring that no harmful gases are emitted into the atmosphere. Green methanol is thus synonymous with clean, renewable methanol.\u00a0<\/p>\n Biomethanol: produced from the gasification(1) of sustainable biomass sources such as livestock, agricultural and forestry residues and municipal waste.<\/p>\n