High Consumption of Methanol in the Transportation Sector

Methanol is a compound that is used as an alternative fuel. It is also known as wood alcohol. The properties of methanol are similar to the chemical and physical properties of ethanol. Methanol is produced by steam-reforming natural gas for producing synthesis gas. The addition of this gas into a reactor in the presence of a catalyst causes water vapor and methanol. Natural gas is preferred over other feedstocks for methanol production due to its affordable cost. 

Advantages of Methanol 

Methanol production costs less compared to the rest alternative fuels. It offers high safety due to a lower risk of flammability, as compared to gasoline. A range of domestic carbon-based feedstocks can be utilized for methanol manufacturing such as natural gas, coal, and biomass. 

Presently, natural gas and coal are utilized for methanol production on a commercial scale. It is made from various renewable sources, such as biomass, municipal waste, and recycled carbon dioxide. Usage of methanol as an alternative fuel in achieving sustainable goals. 

Methanol is widely utilized in petrochemical manufacturing such as acetic acid, olefins, dimethyl ether, methyl tert-butyl ether, formaldehyde, methyl methacrylate, and solvent. Along with this, there is a rise in the demand for methanol-based fuel in transportation, due to environmental concerns. 

Moreover, methanol is highly utilized for power generation as an alternative liquid fuel, more specifically in remote areas where diesel can-not be accessed, due to the absence of gas pipelines. Only a few changes and expenditures are required for adapting to existing power plants and associated infrastructure for accommodating the methanol application as a power fuel.

Furthermore, it also offers utility fuel flexibility, so that power plants running on diesel can convert to methanol, and back to diesel, depending on the requirement, without impacting the efficiency of operations, or machinery. 

Therefore, methanol consumption is rising as an alternative fuel in the transportation sector due to rising environmental concerns.