Methanol as a renewable energy carrier: An assessment of production and transportation costs for selected global locations

TLDR

Importing renewable energy is essential for defossilizing energy systems that currently depend heavily on fossil-based carriers. The study examines the feasibility of importing renewable methanol produced from hydrogen and CO₂. Using a methanol synthesis simulation model, the authors calculate net production costs as a function of hydrogen and CO₂ expenses, incorporating 2030 hydrogen production and distribution costs for four origin/destination country pairs. The analysis shows that with hydrogen costs of 1.35–2 €/kg and shipping, methanol can be imported for 370–600 €/t if CO₂ costs are ≤100 €/t, making it competitive with the current fossil price of ~400 €/t; within CO₂ prices of 30–100 €/t, hydrogen and methanol have comparable energy‑specific import costs (18–30 €/GJ), and the lower shipping cost of methanol offsets the upgrading cost, while local methanol production would require destination CO₂ to be 181–228 €/t cheaper than in the origin to balance higher hydrogen shipping costs.

Abstract

The importing of renewable energy will be one part of the process of defossilizing the energy systems of countries and regions, which are currently heavily dependent on the import of fossil-based energy carriers. This study investigates the possibility of importing renewable methanol comprised of hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Based on a methanol synthesis simulation model, the net production costs of methanol are derived as a function of hydrogen and carbon dioxide expenses. These findings enable a comparison of the import costs of methanol and hydrogen. For this, the hydrogen production and distribution costs for 2030 as reported in a recent study for four different origin/destination country combinations are considered. With the predicted hydrogen production costs of 1.35–2 €/kg and additional shipping costs, methanol can be imported for 370–600 €/t if renewable or process-related carbon dioxide is available at costs of 100 €/t or below in the hydrogen-producing country. Compared to the current fossil market price of approximately 400 €/t, renewable methanol could therefore become cost-competitive. Within the range of carbon dioxide prices of 30–100 €/t, both hydrogen and methanol exhibit comparable energy-specific import costs of 18–30 €/GJ. Hence, the additional costs for upgrading hydrogen to methanol are balanced out by the lower shipping costs of methanol compared to hydrogen. Lastly, a comparison for producing methanol in the hydrogen's origin or destination country indicates that carbon dioxide in the destination country must be 181–228 €/t less expensive than that in the origin country, to balance out the more expensive shipping costs for hydrogen.