The methanol economy following oil and gas

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To make more efficient use of existing oil and gas resources and thereby enable humanity to eventually rid itself of its dependence on fossil fuels, new viable methods—methods based on methanol—have been proposed, forming the basis of the \"methanol economy\". Methanol is a simple, relatively safe liquid alcohol compound that is easy to store and transport. Currently, it is almost always produced from syngas, which comes from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels (mainly natural gas or coal). “The \"methanol economy\" concept suggests that methanol will be used as a convenient material for energy storage and as a fuel, as well as a raw material for synthesizing hydrocarbons and related products. In general, the elements encompassed by the \"methanol economy\" include: 1. Using existing natural gas resources, and through their oxidation (in a new and more convenient manner), to produce methanol or dimethyl ether, without the need to prepare syngas in advance ； 2. Methanol can be produced by hydrogenating industrial waste gas CO2, but ultimately CO2 in the air serves as an infinite carbon source ； 3. Methanol and dimethyl ether can serve as convenient transportation fuels; they can be used in internal combustion engines as well as in next-generation fuel cells, including methanol fuel cells ； 4. Ethylene and propylene can be produced using methanol as a raw material, which provides a basis for synthesizing hydrocarbons and their derivatives. It should be emphasized that no specific type of energy is required for the production of methanol; all forms of energy, including alternative energies and nuclear energy, can be utilized in the most economical, safe, and environmentally friendly manner. Methanol itself is a fuel that can store and release energy conveniently; it is also a raw material for synthesizing hydrocarbons and their related compounds. “The “methanol economy” achieves safety, convenience, and reversibility in energy storage, transportation, and delivery in the form of liquid methanol, which is easy to handle. Methanol can be easily converted into hydrocarbons and related products, which ensures that future generations will have access to the necessities and materials required for our lives today. At the same time, the \"methanol economy\" will reduce the negative impacts that humans have on the Earth’s climate by recycling excess CO2 in the atmosphere. “The \"methanol economy\" allows humanity to move away from increasingly scarce oil and gas, while also making use of and storing various alternative energy sources (renewable energy and nuclear energy). Chemical recycling of excess CO2 in the atmosphere can also help mitigate human-induced global warming. When hydrocarbons burn, carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) are produced. Reversing this process, that is, using carbon dioxide and water to produce various hydrocarbon fuels in an efficient and cost-effective manner, represents a huge challenge. Of course, carbon dioxide in the air can be reintroduced into plant life by nature through photosynthesis in combination with water, but the process by which nature converts carbon dioxide into fossil fuels is extremely slow; therefore, on a human timescale, it is considered non-renewable. “The \"methanol economy\" has significant advantages and feasibility; it outlines a new path through which humanity can gradually and ultimately rid itself of its reliance on increasingly scarce oil, natural gas (and even coal), and through which the problem of global warming caused by the excessive combustion of fossil fuels can also be alleviated. (Excerpt from George A. Ora, Beyond the Oil and Gas Era: The Methanol Economy)