China plans facility to turn kitchen food waste into fuel for ships
Green methanol is an alternative fuel that the shipping industry in China can use to reduce pollution and improve efficiency.
One of the major natural gas supplying firms in China has announced it will build a facility to turn kitchen food waste into green methanol.
Green methanol is an alternative fuel that the shipping industry in China can use to reduce pollution and improve efficiency.
Shi Pingyang, vice president of Shenergy, told reporters on Wednesday that the facility, which could produce 70,000 to 100,000 tons of methanol, will be ready by the end of 2025, as per a report by the South China Morning Post.
Green methanol and its benefits
Methanol is a colorless liquid mainly used to produce other chemicals such as formaldehyde, acetic acid, and plastics. It can also be used as a fuel source for engines.
However, unlike traditional methanol, which comes from fossil fuels, green methanol is produced from low-carbon sources such as biomass or via carbon capture.
According to a 2023 report by the World Economic Forum (WEF), green methanol can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 60-95 percent. The report also mentions that it can completely cut sulfur oxide and particulate matter emissions.
The alternative fuel can also be blended with gasoline or diesel without the need for major engine upgrades and used in all types of vehicles.
Alternatively, green methanol can also be used as a feedstock for producing other chemicals and materials, reducing the chemical industry’s dependence on fossil fuels.
Alternatively, green methanol can also be used as a feedstock for producing other chemicals and materials, reducing the chemical industry’s dependence on fossil fuels.
WEF expects green methanol production to rise to 500 million tons by 2050, from the 0.2 million tons produced annually until last year. According to estimates from the International Renewable Energy Agency, this would cut the release of 1.5 gigatons of carbon dioxide per annum.
China’s push for alternative energy
China has been tapping into all alternative energy resources to meet its ever-growing need for power.
The country has been focusing on nuclear, hydro, solar, and other ways to meet its power needs.
Green methanol is one such alternative that can come in handy for its shipping sector and make it emission-free and sustainable, along with bringing down the operating costs.
Separated food waste can be used to make compost or methane gas and other oils for use by the country’s industrial sector.
The Shenergy executive told another publication that they already possess the infrastructure needed for green methanol production. He also exuded confidence that they could produce it at a cost “lower than the international standard.”
Earlier this year, in March, Shenergy signed a partnership framework pact with The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Ltd (Towngas) to promote the development of green energy businesses in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and both domestic and international markets.
The partnership pact also involved enhancing green methanol’s production capacity and exploring other markets for green energy.
Towngas has been producing green methanol in China for years.
https://interestingengineering.com/energy/china-food-waste-fuel-ships
