The global move away from fossil fuels called for at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai can only succeed within a reasonable period of time if it is replaced by so-called “green methanol” (renewable methanol) as the world’s energy source. This is the assessment of the global think tank Diplomatic Council, which is in consultative status with the United Nations, in its latest book “Prosperity and Economic Growth without Regrets” . In contrast, the large-scale conversion of the global economy from coal, oil and gas to electricity generated by the sun, wind and hydropower has no chance of being realized for many decades to come, according to the global think tank.
“Green methanol” is produced from hydrogen using electrolysis, with the necessary electricity being provided by photovoltaics. According to the think tank, this process contributes to climate improvement in two ways: Firstly, the electricity is sourced from solar energy and secondly, the climate-damaging carbon dioxide (CO2) is removed from the atmosphere during the production process. However, electrolysis requires a great deal of energy, which means that methanol production only makes sense in the sun belt around the equator, where the intensity of solar radiation is high throughout the year. This is offset by the advantage of easy transportation: methanol is liquid at normal temperatures and can be transported using the same infrastructure as oil: tankers, pipelines, tanker trains and tank trucks.
The think tank in consultative status with the UN has described how a global methanol economy could work, from production to transportation to consumption, in the current book “Prosperity and Economic Growth without Regrets”, written by science journalist Jean Putz. The book points out that the necessary technologies have been developed ready for series production by companies such as the Austrian Obrist Group to enable a short-term transition. On the fringes of COP28, talks were reportedly held with numerous countries about this climate-friendly technology transition. The book also considers frequently discussed alternative energy concepts based on electricity, hydrogen and ammonia, but finds them unsuitable.
Electricity can only be transported over long distances with high power losses. At best, the global power lines required for this could only be built at great expense over decades. According to the think tank, electricity storage in batteries is not yet advanced enough to keep entire economies running. They go on to say that the storage and transportation of hydrogen also present major hurdles. For example, hydrogen is a highly volatile gas at normal temperature and highly explosive at a concentration of 4.1 percent in the air. For transportation, it must either be kept under high pressure (at least 700 bar) or liquefied, which requires permanent cooling to at least minus 252 degrees Celsius. Both – pressure and liquefaction – make the storage and transportation of hydrogen technically complex, lead to energy losses of up to 30 percent through conversion, harbour new potential dangers and require the construction of new infrastructure, for example in the form of special hydrogen tankers. Due to the high costs involved, the Diplomatic Council think tank believes that a global hydrogen economy has “little chance in the foreseeable future”.
The think tank’s book recommends relying on market-based mechanisms instead of bans on fossil fuels, which many countries do not accept or only accept after years or decades of delay. It states: “Renewable energy sources will quickly establish themselves on the global market as soon as they are cheaper than fossil fuels. The purse is often more effective than morality.”
“Green methanol” is recommended as the “ideal solution”. The high energy input required for production can be obtained from solar radiation using photovoltaics, and the energy source, which is liquid at normal temperature, can be transported easily and cost-effectively via the infrastructures already built for fossil fuels such as crude oil. Synthetic ammonia, which, like methanol, can be transported without refrigeration, is being discussed as an alternative. However, it is toxic and corrosive, so that transportation by pipeline or tank wagon train is out of the question, as this would quickly destroy them.
Also published on Medium.
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