- The plant will produce 140,000 tons of e-methanol annually.
- The Spanish Ministry allocated 180 million euros from NextGenerationEU funds.
- The project involves Siemens Energy, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Johnson Matthey.
- EPC contract will follow the engineering phase.
Project Overview
A consortium led by Técnicas Reunidas and Siemens Energy has been awarded the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) for a major green methanol plant in La Robla, León, Spain. The facility will produce 140,000 tons of e-methanol annually by combining biogenic carbon from a biomass cogeneration plant with renewable hydrogen.
Technological Significance
The project is at the forefront of e-methanol production technologies, which are crucial for decarbonizing maritime transport and producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). E-methanol, derived from low-emission feedstocks, is vital for reducing emissions in high-emission sectors like the chemical industry and air and maritime transport.
Collaborating Companies
In addition to Técnicas Reunidas and Siemens Energy, the project involves Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Johnson Matthey. Siemens Energy will focus on the renewable hydrogen unit, while Técnicas Reunidas will handle biogenic carbon capture and e-methanol production. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will provide CO2 capture technology, and Johnson Matthey will supply its eMERALD™ technology for direct hydrogenation of captured CO2 to methanol.
Funding and Future Steps
The Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge has allocated 180 million euros from NextGenerationEU funds to the project. This funding is part of the H2 Valles Program, which aims to create large renewable hydrogen clusters across several Spanish regions. The engineering phase will precede the plant's material execution, which will be conducted through an EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) contract.
