SunGas Renewables selected to supply green methanol for hydrogen facility

Johnson Matthey, a leading methanol synthesis technology and catalyst supplier, was also selected to supply key technologies for the project.

The ABEL Energy Bell Bay Powerfuels Project is expected to produce 300 000 tpy of green methanol. This amount is three times Australia’s current methanol consumption and is the shipping fuel equivalent of removing 540 000 tpy of carbon dioxide (CO₂from the atmosphere.

The project requires 240 MW of electrolysis to produce green hydrogen, and robust methanol synthesis and biomass gasification technologies. SunGas Renewables’ renewable syngas generation unit, the SunGas System 1000,™ is specifically designed to convert sustainably sourced wood fibre into renewable syngas. It is this renewable syngas that is used to make renewable biofuels for facilities like Bell Bay.

Johnson Matthey has optimised the design of the methanol synthesis loop and combined it with its highly robust methanol synthesis catalyst. The process combines efficient technology with catalysts and absorbents to maximise plant performance and reduce operating costs. The addition of green hydrogen increases methanol production and leads to increased carbon utilisation efficiency.

SunGas Renewables worked closely with ABEL Energy and Johnson Matthey on design and optimisation studies to fully integrate these leading technologies into the proposed facility. The Bell Bay Powerfuels Project is expected to commence in 2027.

“SunGas has been working closely with ABEL Energy to optimise the integration and deployment of the SunGas System 1000™ gasifier for the project,” said Robert Rigdon, CEO of SunGas Renewables. “It’s been a wonderful collaboration with ABEL’s engineering team, and we’re very excited about seeing this great project come to fruition.”

“We’re very proud and excited to have Johnson Matthey and SunGas Renewables agree to take a role in our Bell Bay Powerfuels Project," said Rhys Tucker, Chief Technology Officer at ABEL Energy. “We really do feel we have brought the very best technologies in the world to Tasmania, and we’re grateful to Johnson Matthey and SunGas for their enthusiastic support of our project.”

Read the article online at: https://www.globalhydrogenreview.com/hydrogen/13112023/sungas-renewables-selected-to-supply-green-methanol-for-hydrogen-facility/