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A Review of The Methanol Economy: The Fuel Cell Route

Author

Listed:
  • Samuel Simon Araya

    (Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg Øst, Denmark)

  • Vincenzo Liso

    (Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg Øst, Denmark)

  • Xiaoti Cui

    (Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg Øst, Denmark)

  • Na Li

    (Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg Øst, Denmark)

  • Jimin Zhu

    (Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg Øst, Denmark)

  • Simon Lennart Sahlin

    (Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg Øst, Denmark)

  • Søren Højgaard Jensen

    (Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg Øst, Denmark)

  • Mads Pagh Nielsen

    (Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg Øst, Denmark)

  • Søren Knudsen Kær

    (Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg Øst, Denmark)

Abstract

This review presents methanol as a potential renewable alternative to fossil fuels in the fight against climate change. It explores the renewable ways of obtaining methanol and its use in efficient energy systems for a net zero-emission carbon cycle, with a special focus on fuel cells. It investigates the different parts of the carbon cycle from a methanol and fuel cell perspective. In recent years, the potential for a methanol economy has been shown and there has been significant technological advancement of its renewable production and utilization. Even though its full adoption will require further development, it can be produced from renewable electricity and biomass or CO 2 capture and can be used in several industrial sectors, which make it an excellent liquid electrofuel for the transition to a sustainable economy. By converting CO 2 into liquid fuels, the harmful effects of CO 2 emissions from existing industries that still rely on fossil fuels are reduced. The methanol can then be used both in the energy sector and the chemical industry, and become an all-around substitute for petroleum. The scope of this review is to put together the different aspects of methanol as an energy carrier of the future, with particular focus on its renewable production and its use in high-temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs) via methanol steam reforming.

Suggested Citation

  • Samuel Simon Araya & Vincenzo Liso & Xiaoti Cui & Na Li & Jimin Zhu & Simon Lennart Sahlin & Søren Højgaard Jensen & Mads Pagh Nielsen & Søren Knudsen Kær, 2020. "A Review of The Methanol Economy: The Fuel Cell Route," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-32, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:3:p:596-:d:314044
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    Cited by:

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    2. Samuel Simon Araya & Sobi Thomas & Andrej Lotrič & Simon Lennart Sahlin & Vincenzo Liso & Søren Juhl Andreasen, 2021. "Effects of Impurities on Pre-Doped and Post-Doped Membranes for High Temperature PEM Fuel Cell Stacks," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-18, May.
    3. Kim, Heehyang & Kim, Ayeon & Byun, Manhee & Lim, Hankwon, 2021. "Comparative feasibility studies of H2 supply scenarios for methanol as a carbon-neutral H2 carrier at various scales and distances," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 552-559.
    4. Carlos Arnaiz del Pozo & Ángel Jiménez Álvaro & Schalk Cloete & Jose Antonio García del Pozo Martín de Hijas, 2023. "The Potential of Chemically Recuperated Power Cycles in Markets with High Shares of Variable Renewables," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-22, October.
    5. Li, Jiaxuan & Zhu, Xun & Djilali, Ned & Yang, Yang & Ye, Dingding & Chen, Rong & Liao, Qiang, 2022. "Comparative well-to-pump assessment of fueling pathways for zero-carbon transportation in China: Hydrogen economy or methanol economy?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    6. Mengfan Zhou & Steffen Frensch & Vincenzo Liso & Na Li & Simon Lennart Sahlin & Giovanni Cinti & Samuel Simon Araya, 2022. "Modeling the Performance Degradation of a High-Temperature PEM Fuel Cell," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-21, August.
    7. Li, Na & Cui, Xiaoti & Zhu, Jimin & Zhou, Mengfan & Liso, Vincenzo & Cinti, Giovanni & Sahlin, Simon Lennart & Araya, Samuel Simon, 2023. "A review of reformed methanol-high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    8. Sukhe Badmaev & Vladimir Sobyanin, 2020. "Production of Hydrogen-Rich Gas by Oxidative Steam Reforming of Dimethoxymethane over CuO-CeO 2 /γ-Al 2 O 3 Catalyst," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-10, July.
    9. Giovanni Cinti & Vincenzo Liso & Simon Lennart Sahlin & Samuel Simon Araya, 2020. "System Design and Modeling of a High Temperature PEM Fuel Cell Operated with Ammonia as a Fuel," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-17, September.
    10. Ngoc Van Trinh & Younghyeon Kim & Hongjip Kim & Sangseok Yu, 2021. "Evaporation of Methanol Solution for a Methanol Steam Reforming System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-15, August.

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