Major Breakthrough in Disruptive Technology: Full-Carbon Directed Conversion of Biogas to Green Methanol

On January 31, a briefing on the key milestones of the project “Key Technologies and Pilot Demonstration for Full-Carbon Directed Conversion of Biogas to Green Methanol” was held at Shanghai Laogang Ecological and Environmental Protection Base. The project is led by Professor De Chen, Chair Professor at ECUST, a Member of Academia Europaea, and Chief Scientist at Shanghai CEO Technology Co., Ltd. The pilot plant successfully completed feed-in and start-up operations, producing green methanol that meets standards for green marine fuels. This achievement not only fills an international technological gap in biogas-based green marine fuel production but also lays a solid material foundation for the green transformation of the global shipping industry.

The project is strongly supported by a special program of the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission and is jointly carried out by ECUST, Shanghai CEO Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai Municipal Investment (Group) Corporation (SMI Group), SINOPEC Shanghai Engineering Co., Ltd., SIPG Energy Service Co., Ltd., and other organizations. As a key bridge for transferring scientific achievements from laboratory research to industrial application, the high-efficiency pilot unit integrates proprietary systems with independent intellectual property rights, including electrically driven biogas hybrid reforming, directed synthesis of green methanol, heat-pump-coupled distillation, and heat integration optimization. From community waste bins to the fuel tanks of ocean-going vessels, a green link connecting urban recycling systems and blue maritime routes is becoming increasingly clear and robust.

Academician De Chen stated that as the world’s largest container port, Shanghai has a concentrated demand for green marine fuels. With its resource, location and industrial advantages, Shanghai possesses unique strengths to build a “Future Asia-Pacific Green Fuel Hub.” An integrated framework encompassing government, ports, shipping, energy, and certification will form a full-industrial chain ecosystem covering production, storage, transportation, bunkering and certification, supporting China in taking a leading role in the high-quality development of global green shipping.