Development of electrolysis plant for production of eMethanol

In 2017 Process Engineering started a collaboration with the department of energy technology at Aalborg University. Through analysis of projections of energy prices and the expansion of the biogas sector in Denmark, they had concluded that in the early 2020s it would be economically attractive to produce methanol from CO2 in biogas and hydrogen from eletrolysis of water.

We were responsible for conceptual design, basic design, detailed engineering and start-up supervision of the plant. We engineered a process producing methanol based on hydrogen produced by electrolysis and CO2 from biogas, which could be used as an additive to biodiesel. In connection with the determination of the operating conditions for the methanol synthesis, we determined the reaction kinetics on the basis of a literature study, and subsequently we prepared a simulation model. This formed the basis for the design and dimensioning of the process equipment.

The plant is the first of its kind in Denmark. A part of the plant was carried out for Aalborg University, while a large part was carried out with support from EUDP as a part of a consortium that received a double-digit million amount in support.