MAPING AND TECHNOLOGICAL PROSPECTION OF E-METHANOL PRODUCTION
E-fuel, Power-To-X, Offshore Wind Power, Green Hydrogen, Technological Alternatives, Patent Analysis.
As the energy transition develops globally, it is necessary for countries to unite to the targets set out in the Paris Agreement, limiting Earth's temperature rise to 1.5 °C by the year 2050. From this perspective, the production of green hydrogen (H2V) and carbon dioxide (CO2), also known as e-methanol, is crucial to the decarbonization of the global economy. Brazil has high offshore wind potential (more than 1200 GW), and the Northeast region, mainly the coast of Rio Grande do Norte, is considered favorable for H2V production at a lower cost level when compared to other countries. E-methanol, in turn, stands out as a highly versatile chemical for various sectors of the chemical industry, such as the production of formaldehyde, acetic acid, and plastics. Furthermore, e-methanol is considered a fuel with a high energy density when compared to compressed and liquid hydrogen, as well as being easy to store and transport because it is liquid at ambient temperature and pressure. As a result, the present work aims to map the current technological routes and technological trends for the production of e-methanol using electric energy from renewable sources. Thus, the research was developed in three stages: The research was conducted in three stages: 1) theoretical research on e-methanol and the technological routes for its production; 2) research and analysis of technological patents related to e-methanol production; and 3) a case study on semi-pilot-scale production projects on an industrial scale in countries within the European Union. The current work will provide a thorough analysis of e-methanol production technologies, focusing on the raw material chain and process inputs. It will also suggest how these technologies are likely to change over time and highlight any problems that may arise in the production processes, such as ethanol storage, conditioning, transportation, and final use.