Why Green Methanol Beats E-Methanol on Cost, Speed, and Carbon Impact

Executive Summary:
E-methanol made from green hydrogen is promising—but expensive, slow to scale, and hard to certify for carbon credits. Bio-methanol, produced from biomass syngas, offers a faster, cheaper, and more carbon-negative path forward. AER Energy’s modular bio-methanol systems are already being deployed across Asia-Pacific, delivering real carbon removal and verified credits today.

Two Pathways to Green Methanol

Green methanol comes in two main forms:

1. E-Methanol:
   • Made by combining captured CO₂ with renewable hydrogen (via electrolysis)
   • Hydrogen is the dominant cost driver
   • Requires grid upgrades, electrolyzers, and significant water input
2. Bio-Methanol (AER’s approach):
   • Produced from syngas generated by gasifying biomass or waste
   • Syngas is upgraded and converted to methanol via catalytic synthesis
   • Built-in carbon sequestration (via biochar and CO₂ capture)

Key Differences in Cost, Speed, and Climate Value

Why Bio-Methanol Wins for Climate and Capital

🔋 Lower Cost per Tonne

• Bio-methanol can be profitably produced and sold below US$500/t, compared to e-methanol’s higher floor
• Lower CapEx per litre of output, enabling faster market entry

🌱 More Carbon-Negative

• Verified removal of >3 tonnes CO₂e per tonne of biochar
• Lifecycle emissions net-negative, vs. marginal gains from electrolysis

🧱 Faster to Build, Easier to Site

• AER’s systems are containerized and modular
• Deployable at biomass sources, port cities, or industrial zones
• Fully self-sustaining — no external energy or hydrogen required

Real Deployment vs. Future Promise

Why AER’s Platform Is Built for Scale

AER Energy delivers:

• ⚙️ 20M+ litres/year per modular system
• ♻️ Biomass-to-syngas-to-methanol, in one integrated unit
• 📊 MRV-ready data collection and third-party verification
• 🌍 Pipeline of 500M litres across Australia and Asia-Pacific

Conclusion: Bio-Methanol Is the Practical Green Methanol

E-methanol may play a future role—but bio-methanol is ready now. AER’s systems combine affordability, scalability, and carbon removal to deliver real impact today. As the market matures, speed, carbon intensity, and deployability matter — and bio-methanol wins on all three.

Want to Learn More?

• 📄 Download the Bio vs. E-Methanol Brief
• 🤝 Join a JV or Fuel Offtake Partnership
• 💬 Book a Technical Call with Our Methanol Team