Chinese enterprise to build green e-methanol plant to supply shipping industry

German marine technology firm Environmental Marine Technology on Wednesday (19 July) said its client, a energy enterprise in China, is preparing to initiate the construction of a 10,000-tonnes green e-methanol production project in August 2023. 

The firm said the Chinese company has already obtained a letter of purchase intention from “well-established shipping companies from liners, oil tankers, and bulk carriers” before the project commencement. 

“Furthermore, ongoing negotiations with multiple other shipping companies are underway to secure pre-purchase agreements for green methanol. Considering the global focus on energy conservation and emission reduction, green methanol is anticipated to emerge as the preferred fuel choice for ship owners in the future,” the firm said in a social media post. 

Environmental Marine Technology did not identify the name of the Chinese energy enterprise and the location of the plant.

Once operational, it will become the world’s first facility capable of annually producing 10,000 tonnes of green E-methanol. The project, which carries an investment of USD 60 million, is scheduled to be completed by June 2024.

“The Green Methanol Production Project signified a groundbreaking endeavour undertaken by the company, with a prime focus on manufacturing environmentally sustainable methanol using an advanced method known as ‘wind power to hydrogen synthesis’,” the firm said in a social media post. 

Additionally, alongside this venture, the group is finalising a feasibility study for a larger-scale green methanol production base with an annual output of 500,000 tonnes. Construction for this expanded facility is expected to commence in the second half of 2024, with the aim of supplying cost-effective and competitive green methanol to the global shipping market by the latter half of 2025.

Photo credit: Toby Yang on Unsplash
Published: 20 July, 2023