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Methanol Economy: Central Government’s Framework and Progress. (Thread)
Aim of this transition set to reduce $20 Billion in crude imports & reduced carbon foot print.
Below is the sectoral demand of fuel in India.
Aim of this transition set to reduce $20 Billion in crude imports & reduced carbon foot print.
Below is the sectoral demand of fuel in India.
Methanol Economy will result in 15% reduction in fuel bill/Annum by 2030. Additionally, Rs. 6000 Crore can be saved annually by blending of 20% DME (Di-methyl Ether – a derivative of methanol) in LPG. To the consumer, it will result in saving of minimum ₹50 to ₹100/ cylinder.
The progress made for migration to Methanol economy from 2014 to date:
1. An R&D project on developing indigenous technology for the production of methanol using high ash coal, is nearing completion and a 1 Tonne/day methanol production capacity plant will be demonstrated soon.
1. An R&D project on developing indigenous technology for the production of methanol using high ash coal, is nearing completion and a 1 Tonne/day methanol production capacity plant will be demonstrated soon.
5 methanol plants based on high ash coal, 5 DME plants and 1 natural gas based methanol production plant with a total production of 20 MMT/ annum in joint venture with Israel, are planned to be set up. India Aims to take Methanol to a 2 lakh crore economy by 2024.
September 2020, Coal India had invited global bids for setting up a coal to methanol plant. Dankuni Coal Complex in West Bengal, currently run by its subsidiary South Eastern Coalfields, is identified as the project site for the proposed plant. Est. Project value is $800 Million.
2. R&D projects, on the production of methanol using biomass, are progressing well. Phase 1 of the project has been completed by the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
3. Research work by IOC showed that blending up to 15% of methanol in petrol, and 20% DME in LPG, needed no specific modifications in the internal combustion engines, or in the materials/parts.
4. Emissions and material compatibility, for the M15 blend, have been completed by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), Pune. ARAI, in collaboration with the Maruti Suzuki, has completed road trials and the durability test of the vehicles on M15.
Thermax Ltd. has successfully developed a 5 KW methanol based reformer on a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC). This module is being tested to replace DG sets in mobile towers. DG sets in mobile towers consume 1.5% of the total consumption.
Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd. has converted a 5 KW generator set to run on 100% methanol and demonstrated successfully. Kirloskar is working towards converting generator sets of 150 - 300 KVA/KW capacity in collaboration with Dor Chemicals, Israel to tackle 10% consumption.
