Galicia e-methanol project targets bunkering demand

Spanish fuel distributor Forestal de Atlántico (Forestal) plans to build a 40,000 mt/year e-methanol production plant in Galicia, Spain.

PHOTO: Blueprint of Forestal's proposed Triskelion e-methanol plant in Galicia, Spain. Forestal del Atlántico

The fuel produced will primarily be supplied for bunkering, among other sectors, the company said.

“Located in Northwest coast of Spain, TKL [Triskelion Plant] is the nearest stop for the ARA route from south in connection with the Houston route,” it added.

TE-methanol, or synthetic methanol, is produced using 100% biogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) and green hydrogen. The biogenic CO2 is typically captured through either bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) or direct air capture (DAC). The resulting fuel is virtually free of greenhouse gas emissions and can be used on its own or blended with grey methanol as a drop-in fuel.

Forestal’s proposed facility will use wind and hydroelectric power as renewable energy inputs to produce both e-methanol and green hydrogen.

The required CO2 feedstock will be sourced from nearby industrial flue gases using German chemical firm Badische Anilin- und Sodafabrik’s (BASF) direct air capture technology. Producing 40,000 mt/year of e-methanol will require approximately 56,000 mt/year of CO2, according to Forestal.

The company also noted that the plant’s output could be expanded to 56,000 mt/year in the future.

By Konica Bhatt

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