In recent years, the green methanol industry has undergone structural changes, and its downstream applications are expanding from traditional chemical industries to energy, new materials, and other directions, forming a "multi-point flowering" development pattern. With the advancement of technology, policy promotion, and the deepening of green transformation, the "three market" pattern of green methanol in the three major fields of energy, chemical industry, and new materials is gradually becoming clear, opening up new growth space for industrial chain upgrading.
1、 The Rise of Liquid New Energy in the Energy Sector
Under the guidance of the "dual carbon" target, green methanol is rapidly emerging as an important liquid new energy source. Green methanol (prepared from green hydrogen and renewable carbon dioxide or biomass) has received high attention from the global energy system.
Compared to hydrogen, green methanol is a liquid at room temperature and pressure, without the need for high-pressure or low-temperature storage, and has excellent storage, transportation, and supply convenience, making it an important carrier for hydrogen energy systems.
In the field of transportation energy, green methanol fuel vehicles and green methanol dual fuel engines are accelerating their commercialization. Especially in the shipping industry, the attractiveness of green methanol as a green fuel continues to increase, as it can effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide a realistic path for decarbonization in the shipping industry.
At the policy level, China is actively promoting the application of green methanol fuel and supporting the construction of green methanol refueling infrastructure. With the maturity of green methanol preparation technology and the improvement of the industrial chain, green methanol is expected to become an indispensable low-carbon energy source in the transportation energy system.
2、 In the field of chemical engineering, traditional foundations still exist
Although energy use is growing rapidly, the position of green methanol as a basic chemical raw material remains stable. For a long time, green methanol to olefins (MTO/MTP) has been the largest destination for green methanol consumption in China, accounting for nearly half of the total.
In addition, green methanol is widely used in the production of basic chemical products such as formaldehyde, acetic acid, dimethyl ether (DME), MTBE, etc. These products support multiple industries such as plastics, resins, textiles, and building materials.
However, the growth of traditional demand is slowing down. Some mature downstream products such as formaldehyde and MTBE are experiencing stable growth due to environmental policies and capacity structure adjustments. Emerging chemicals such as BDO (butanediol), DMC (dimethyl carbonate), and MMA (methyl methacrylate) are becoming new growth poles for green methanol consumption with higher added value and wider application areas, especially in the new energy and photovoltaic industries.
3、 The field of new materials is rapidly developing towards high-end and innovative development
The application of green methanol in the field of new materials is rapidly expanding, becoming an important direction for the high-end upgrading of the industry.
For example, dimethyl carbonate (DMC) is an important raw material for lithium battery electrolytes, and green methanol is its key precursor. Some enterprises have established production systems for electrolytes, new solvents, and battery materials based on green methanol, promoting the extension of green methanol into the new energy material chain.
In addition, olefins obtained through green methanol to olefin can be further synthesized into polymer materials and engineering plastics; Green methanol to methyl methacrylate (MMA) can be used to produce transparent plastic PMMA (organic glass), which is widely used in fields such as optics, construction, and electronics.
In the direction of green chemistry and carbon recycling, green methanol is regarded as an important medium for achieving carbon capture and utilization (CCU). The synthesis of green methanol from renewable carbon dioxide and its conversion into high value-added compounds provides a sustainable path for the chemical industry that balances economic benefits and environmental value.
