CIUDEN and Eurecat advance methanol project

The first phase, with a budget of €218 000, has been allocated to research and development of advanced chemical technologies, including the design and experimental validation of more efficient reactors and catalysts. The second phase, budgeted at €756 000, will now focus on the supply and commissioning of the pilot plant.

The initial R&D phase took place in Eurecat's laboratories in Tarragona, while the engineering and validation phase will be carried out at Eurecat's headquarters in Amposta in collaboration with the engineering firm CIRAUQUI. Subsequently, the plant will be moved to the facilities of CIUDEN in Cubillos del Sil, where its operation will be verified in continuous operation under real industrial operating conditions.

Alberto Gómez-Barea, Technical Director of R&D&I of CIUDEN, explained: “Once the conceptual design of the reactor type, the installation, and the plant's performance were validated in the first phase, the next step is to complete the final design of the pilot scale plant, its construction, and commissioning. The plant's approximate production will be ¼ tpd of methanol with a purity exceeding 90%. This plant will allow for the development of an advanced technological option for the production of green methanol from green hydrogen and captured CO₂. Ultimately, this project will contribute significantly to decarbonisation solutions, primarily for the chemical and energy industries, within the energy transition process, perfectly aligned with the climate neutrality objectives established in European and national plans.”

In the second phase of the project, “plant simulation will be implemented for its design and sizing, a key step to guarantee technical feasibility,” emphasised Aitor Gual, Project Director for Eurecat and Head of the CO₂ Capture and Conversion Line at the technology centre. “This process allows us to anticipate complexities and minimise risks in construction, ensuring that the innovation can be successfully transferred to the real-world environment.

Towards a new generation of methanol reactors

The pilot plant will allow the transformation of emissions into resources and advance towards a net-zero emissions industry in key sectors of the economy and is financed by the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR) of the Government of Spain with funds from the Next Generation program of the EU.

The pilot plant for methanol production from green hydrogen and captured CO₂ will enable the development of a new generation of methanol reactors using Sorption Enhanced conversion through the use of catalysts and sorbents. With this innovative technology for the direct production of 9 kg/h of methanol with a purity greater than 90% and other infrastructure, CIUDEN It will be equipped with the necessary capacities for the synthesis of synthetic fuels (e-fuels).

This initiative is based on a circular carbon economy model, using green hydrogen to convert captured CO₂ into high-value green methanol. Its contribution to the energy transition is aligned with the climate-neutrality goals established in European and national plans.

In this sense, the development of the pilot plant advances the real implementation of decarbonisation technologies, enabling strategic sectors to transform their emissions into high-value-added products, such as green methanol.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalhydrogenreview.com/hydrogen/10112025/ciuden-and-eurecat-advance-methanol-project/