State-owned power generation company NTPC has recently partnered with Tecnimont to explore green methanol production at a commercial scale.

About:

• The green methanol project involves capturing carbon from NTPC power plants and converting it into a green fuel.
• The objective of the partnership was to demonstrate technologies for firing a higher percentage of Torrefied Biomass in NTPC’s coal fired units, Methanol Firing and Ammonia Firing.

What is Green methanol?

• Green methanol is defined as “methanol produced via a process that emits zero or a minimal amount of GHGs, usually measured as an equivalent amount of CO2.”
• Green methanol is methanol that is produced renewably and without polluting emissions, one of its variants being generated from green hydrogen.
• It is a low-carbon fuel that can be made from either biomass gasification or renewable electricity and captured carbon dioxide (CO2).
• This chemical compound can be used as a low-carbon liquid fuel and is a promising alternative to fossil fuels in areas where decarbonisation is a major challenge, such as maritime transport.

Other classifications:

Grey methanol

• It is obtained by synthesis reaction from methane present in natural gas (or in some cases, as in China, still from coal). It is therefore not a renewable or clean energy.

 Blue methanol

• It is also obtained by synthesis derived from natural gas, but includes as part of the process the capture and storage of the carbon generated during its production, converting it into a less polluting product.

About NTPC

• NTPC Ltd. is a central Public Sector Undertaking(PSU) under the Ministry of Power.
• It is India’s largest energy conglomerate with roots planted way back in 1975 to accelerate power development in India.
• Aim: To provide reliable power and related solutions in an economical, efficient and environment-friendly manner, driven by innovation and agility.
• It became a Maharatna company in May 2010.
• It is located in New Delhi.