Methanol
Methanol (one oxygen, one carbon, and four hydrogen atoms) emits CO2 on combustion, so ‘green methanol’ requires an offsetting lifecycle pathway in order to be sustainable. Thus, it needs to use ‘green’ hydrogen and air-captured CO2 as feedstocks, or to use 100% bio-sourced methane. There is an accelerating order book for methanol-enabled ships and associated bunkering infrastructure in ports.
Ammonia (one nitrogen and three hydrogen atoms) has no associated CO2 emissions on combustion, but its sustainable production also requires green hydrogen. It has significant toxicity issues and its own GHG challenges – its combustion creates nitrous oxide (laughing gas) with more than 250x the global warming impact of CO2 over a 100-year time horizon.
Methanol, Ammonia and Hydrogen
