Methanol-to-Hydrogen Could Play Role in Transportation, Distributed Power

April 14, 2023--Written by Paul Wiseman for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--With hydrogen gaining steam as a versatile and clean alternative fuel, its biggest challenge lies in storage and transportation. It is the universe's most abundant element, but also its lightest. For transportation and storage, it must be compressed somehow--liquefied through deep chilling or by conversion to a related liquid form, such as ammonia or methanol.

Ammonia's ready availability as a feedstock for fertilizer and other uses makes it attractive as a hydrogen carrier. But another, more stable option is also in the mix: methanol.