Carbon Negative Power

Solutions · Biomethanol

Biomethanol from biomass.

Renewable methanol for marine fuel and chemicals. Now accepting expressions of interest for offtake.

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Biomass gasification plant with syngas piping

Why biomethanol

A drop-in methanol, made from biomass.

Methanol is one of the world's most widely traded chemicals, and shipping lines are adding methanol-fuelled vessels as they plan for lower-carbon fuel. Almost all methanol today is made from fossil fuels.

Biomethanol is chemically the same molecule, made from biomass instead. CNP develops plants that turn certified woody biomass into biomethanol and sell it as a fuel and chemical feedstock.

Woody biomass fuel store
  • Same methanol, renewable carbon
  • Made from certified woody biomass
  • Produced to qualify under ISCC EU and RED III
  • Sold as a fuel and chemical product

The pathway

From woody biomass to fuel-grade methanol.

The same gasification route CNP uses for power and renewable gas, with methanol synthesis downstream.

  1. 01

    Biomass

    Certified woody feedstock

  2. 02

    Gasification

    Biomass to syngas

  3. 03

    Syngas cleanup

    Tars and particulates removed

  4. 04

    Conditioning

    Syngas prepared for synthesis

  5. 05

    Methanol synthesis

    Catalytic conversion

  6. 06

    Distillation

    Fuel-grade methanol

  7. 07

    Biomethanol

    Delivered to the buyer

Cargo ship at sea

End markets

One product, several buyers.

  • Marine fuel

    Methanol-capable vessels need lower-carbon methanol to meet shipping fuel rules such as FuelEU Maritime.

  • Chemicals

    Methanol is a building block for formaldehyde, acetic acid and many other products.

  • Fuel and e-fuel pathways

    Renewable methanol can feed further fuel routes as they develop.

  • Certified supply

    Produced to qualify under ISCC EU and RED III so buyers can document the fuel's origin.

  • Local feedstock

    Woody biomass sourced near the plant under long-term supply arrangements.

  • Staged build

    Plants are built in stages so capacity follows demand.

CNP biomass gasification plant, reference photo

Reference project · United States · In development

Stage 1, 50,000 tonnes a year of biomethanol

The challenge
Buyers want low-carbon methanol in volume, from a project that can show where the fuel comes from.
What CNP delivers
A plant converting certified woody biomass into biomethanol, planned at 50,000 tonnes a year in Stage 1, with first supply targeted for Q2 2029.
View the project
Process equipment in a fuel plant

FAQ

Common questions.

What is biomethanol?

Methanol made from biomass rather than fossil fuels. It is the same molecule as conventional methanol, so it works in the same engines, tanks and chemical processes.

Is it the same as e-methanol?

No. E-methanol is made from green hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide. Biomethanol takes its carbon from biomass.

Is the fuel certified?

It is produced to qualify under ISCC EU and RED III. Certification is confirmed for the specific plant and supply chain.

Who can register interest?

Methanol buyers, biomass suppliers, investors and lenders, technology partners, and community or government stakeholders.

Register interest

Methanol buyers, suppliers, investors and partners.

We are accepting expressions of interest for biomethanol offtake. Tell us who you are and what you would like to discuss. We reply to every registration, and share more detail under NDA.

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