Johnson Matthey chosen by Liquid Sunshine for Guangxi biomethanol plant
- Guangdong Liquid Sunshine will develop a biomass gasification-to-methanol plant in Tiandong, Guangxi, with Johnson Matthey supplying methanol synthesis technology and ECEC as engineering partner.
- Phase 1 construction is expected later this year and targets 75,000 t/yr biomethanol capacity.
- Phase 2 would use captured CO2 combined with electrolytic hydrogen to produce e-methanol, increasing low-carbon methanol output without additional biomass and leveraging biomass dual fluidized-bed gasification tech co-developed with the Qingdao Institute.
Project overview
Guangdong Liquid Sunshine selected Johnson Matthey to supply methanol synthesis technology for a commercial biomethanol plant in Tiandong County, Guangxi, with East China Engineering Science and Technology Co. (ECEC) as engineering partner; the project is led by Guangdong Liquid Sunshine and jointly constructed with the Tiandong County People's Government and China Coal Guangxi New Energy.
Technology and capacity
The facility will apply biomass gasification—using a Biomass Dual Fluidized Bed Chemical Chain Gasification Technology co-developed with the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology—to produce syngas that JM’s methanol synthesis loop and catalyst convert to methanol; phase 1 targets 75,000 t/yr biomethanol and construction is expected later this year.
Expansion and e-methanol option
A potential phase 2 would capture CO2 from the first plant and combine it with electrolytic hydrogen to produce e‑methanol, boosting low‑carbon methanol output without extra biomass feedstock and supporting compliance with e‑fuel mandates, including in Europe.
Strategic context and collaboration
The project aligns with China’s Five‑Year Plan 2026–2030 emphasis on advanced green fuels and the country’s expanding green fuel and low‑carbon shipping fuel capacity; Johnson Matthey, Liquid Sunshine and ECEC have signed an MoU to explore further cooperative projects.
Source: Johnson Matthey