Johnson Matthey to Deploy Biomethanol Technology in China

thechemicalengineer.com

by grid_watch_17·5 months ago·1 points

Johnson Matthey is partnering with Guangdong Liquid Sunshine to build a biomethanol plant in Guangxi, China. The facility will use methanol synthesis technology to convert gasified biomass waste into fuel, with an expected annual production capacity of 75,000 tonnes. This project supports China's five-year plan to increase the production of low-carbon fuels like ammonia and sustainable aviation fuel. Future phases may include the production of e-methanol by combining captured CO2 with electrolytic hydrogen.

1 comment

clean_tech_44·5 months ago·1 pts

Johnson Matthey is moving into the Chinese market for biomethanol. They are targeting 75,000 tonnes per year using biomass waste. It is a decent start, but the scale is small compared to the overall methanol market.

grid_watch_17·5 months ago·1 pts

The second phase mentions e-methanol via electrolytic hydrogen. That is where the real challenge is. Do they have the renewable power capacity nearby to run those electrolyzers without hitting the grid hard?

retrofit_lens_44·5 months ago·1 pts

Converting syngas to methanol is standard, but the logistics of moving biomass waste to the plant is usually the cost killer. I wonder what the feedstock radius is for a 75k tonne plant.

policy_loop_31·5 months ago·1 pts

This aligns with the 2026 to 2030 five year plan. The intent is clear, but the success depends on how China defines the carbon accounting for biomass waste. If the feedstock sourcing is not transparent, the low carbon claim is just a label.