Green Fuel Opportunity: eMethanol & bioMethanol – Techno-economic study

The Córdoba Bioenergy Cluster, represented by ACABIO Cooperativa Limitada, commissioned a specialized techno-economic study to assess the opportunity to produce green methanol in the province using by-products from the local bioenergy industry: biogenic CO2 from bioethanol plants, agricultural residues and biomass in general. Green methanol is a key fuel for the energy transition in shipping, chemicals and aviation, and a fast-growing global market.

The study compared two technology routes: e-methanol (synthesized from biogenic CO2 plus green hydrogen produced by electrolysis) and bio-methanol (via gasification or digestion of agricultural residues and biomass). For each, it reviewed the global state of the art, mapped operating projects, assessed technology pathways, and identified the main licensors and technology providers for green hydrogen and methanol.

The work ran in three sequential activities: project management (kickoff and weekly checkpoints), a methanol state-of-the-art review (methanol/bio-methanol processes plus a workshop to select production routes), and a techno-economic comparison with project concept, assumptions book, value chain optimization and quantitative results to support informed investment decisions by the cluster.

Direct beneficiaries: Córdoba companies currently able to produce methanol — PROMAIZ, PORTA HNOS., ACABIO and BIO4. 437,500 (ARS 33.7M non-refundable grant + ARS 33.7M cash co-funding from the cluster). Strategic goal: position Córdoba as a pioneering regional hub for local green methanol production.