E-methanol

Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol or "wood spirit," is much more than a simple chemical compound—it is the invisible backbone of numerous industries. This colorless liquid, with its formula CH₃OH, fuels processes fundamental to our daily lives, from the manufacture of plastics, paints, and textiles to its use as an industrial solvent or as a component in antifreeze and fuels.

Every year, the world consumes more than 100 million tons of methanol. To understand the magnitude of this figure, imagine 50,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools filled with this clear liquid, or enough volume to completely fill the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium more than 100 times. This massive demand has created a global industry valued at more than €40 billion.

However, there is a fundamental problem: virtually all the methanol we currently consume comes from fossil fuels, primarily natural gas. Each molecule of conventional methanol releases carbon that has been stored underground for millions of years, thus contributing to the climate imbalance that threatens our future.

In 2005, Nobel Laureate George A. Olah put forward a revolutionary vision in his essay "Beyond Oil and Gas: The Methanol Economy." His proposal was not merely technical, but transformative: to build a global economy based on methanol as the central energy carrier.

What made Olah a visionary was his understanding of the unique properties of this simple molecule: the simplest of alcohols, liquid at room temperature, soluble in water, biodegradable, and with an exceptional ability to transport energy efficiently. Where others saw insurmountable obstacles to the energy transition, he envisioned a perfect bridge: methanol.

Two decades later, that seemingly utopian vision is coming to life in projects like Reolum's. The fundamental difference: we no longer rely on fossil fuels to produce this methanol, but instead create it from renewable sources, bringing the true potential of Olah's concept to life.

E-methanol is not a new compound—it is the same methanol molecule that the industry has used for decades, but with one revolutionary difference: its origin

E-methanol, or renewable methanol, breaks the dependence on fossil fuels by utilizing two key components: green hydrogen produced through water electrolysis using renewable energy, and captured carbon dioxide—in our case, from biogenic sources like biomass. The result is chemically identical to conventional methanol, but its carbon footprint is radically different.

While traditional methanol adds "new" carbon to the atmosphere, contributing to climate change, e-methanol participates in a closed cycle where carbon simply circulates between the atmosphere, plants, our industrial process and back again, without increasing the net concentration of greenhouse gases.

What makes e-methanol truly revolutionary is not just its chemistry, but its ability to solve multiple challenges simultaneously:

1. Renewable energy storageGreen hydrogen, although promising, presents enormous logistical challenges for its storage and transportation. E-methanol, being liquid at room temperature, "packages" this renewable energy into a format that is easy to store and transport using existing infrastructure.
2. Carbon capture and utilization: Rather than viewing CO₂ as a problematic waste product, e-methanol transforms it into a valuable resource, creating economic incentives for its capture.
3. Solution for sectors that are difficult to electrify: As electrification advances across multiple sectors, some, such as long-distance shipping, aviation, and certain industrial processes, present enormous technical challenges for direct electrification. E-methanol offers a viable, low-carbon alternative for these sectors.
4. Compatibility with existing infrastructures: Unlike other solutions that require radical changes in infrastructure and equipment, e-methanol can largely be used with existing technologies and facilities, facilitating a faster and more economically viable transition.
5. Environmental safetyUnlike many other fuels and chemicals, methanol is not persistent in the environment. It biodegrades naturally, minimizing the impact of potential spills or leaks.

Methanol occupies a privileged position as the chemical industry's quintessential intermediate. It behaves like a "molecular chameleon," capable of being transformed into hundreds of different products, from plastics and adhesives to construction materials and pharmaceuticals.

This versatility makes it a superior alternative energy source to hydrogen in many applications. While hydrogen requires high pressure or extremely low temperatures for storage, methanol remains liquid under normal conditions, greatly facilitating its handling and distribution.

This central position explains why 60% of global methanol is consumed in traditional chemical sectors, producing formaldehyde, acetic acid and other key compounds, while an increasing 40% is used for energy applications such as biodiesel, fuel blends, DME (dimethyl ether) and MTBE (methyl tert-butyl ether).

The e-methanol horizon is expanding rapidly, with applications that are transforming entire sectors:

Maritime Transport: Methanol as a marine fuel is gaining momentum. Currently, there are 70 vessels capable of running on methanol, and more than 400 additional vessels are in the pipeline. This progress reflects a significant shift toward decarbonization of the maritime sector, which accounts for approximately 31% of global emissions. This movement marks the beginning of a new era in reducing ocean emissions, with a potentially monumental impact on the fight against climate change.

Sustainable Aviation: As aviation desperately searches for sustainable alternatives, e-methanol is emerging as a precursor to synthetic aviation fuels that could enable carbon-neutral flights.

Chemical industry: Methanol is the starting point for countless chemical value chains. Its renewable version enables decarbonization, from plastics manufacturing to construction materials production, creating "green" products from the very beginning.

Distributed Energy: In regions with limited electrical infrastructure, e-methanol can transport renewable energy to remote areas, serving as a fuel for decentralized power generation. Experiences in Israel, where it has been tested as a boiler fuel, demonstrate its versatility in stationary energy applications.

Military and Remote ApplicationsMethanol-powered fuel cells offer energy solutions for remote locations or military applications where reliability and energy density are critical.

Automotive: Although electric vehicles dominate the transition to personal ground transportation, e-methanol offers potential for specific fleets and heavy-duty vehicles, either as a direct fuel or as a hydrogen carrier for fuel cells.

It's no coincidence that Spain is emerging as one of the most promising regions for e-methanol production. The unique combination of abundant renewable resources, industrial tradition, and commitment to the energy transition creates the ideal ecosystem to lead this revolution.

At Reolum, we have identified these competitive advantages and are transforming them into concrete projects. Our facilities in La Robla will not only produce e-methanol—they will create a new industrial paradigm where waste becomes a resource and where the sun and wind of Castilla y León drive the decarbonization of global industries.

The e-methanol we produce is not simply a product—it's a tool for industrial transformation that enables our customers and investors to actively participate in building a sustainable future, maintaining competitiveness in a world moving inexorably toward climate neutrality.

While others debate theoretical possibilities, at Reolum we're building the real solutions the world needs, today. The future of methanol is no longer in the depths of the earth—it's in the sun, the wind, and the innovation that only Reolum can deliver. We're making the methanol economy George Olah envisioned a reality, but in a fully renewable and sustainable way.