Obrist Group: Methanol as the Ideal Fossil Fuel Replacement for Key Industries
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Obrist Group: Methanol as the Ideal Fossil Fuel Replacement for Key Industries
Key Industries for Methanol: Automotive, Shipping, Aviation, Energy, and Chemicals
Lindau/Germany, Lustenau/Austria – Dezember 5 2024 – Methanol is the ideal replacement for fossil fuels in numerous key industries. This conclusion was reached by the engineering and consulting firm ILF Consulting Engineers, the patent and law firm ETL-IP, and the auditing company BDO in a joint due diligence of the German-Austrian industrial group Obrist Group. The group has developed a process for producing so-called “green methanol” that results in net-zero climate-damaging CO2 emissions. In fact, the methanol production process removes more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than is emitted during its later use. “We operate sub-zero,” explains CEO Frank Obrist, adding: “Our emissions are below the zero line, making our process work like a CO2 vacuum cleaner.”
This marks the crucial difference from conventional "grey methanol," which is derived from coal or natural gas (along with ethylene, propylene, and ammonia as basic chemicals). Grey methanol is primarily used in plastics, acetic acid, and formaldehyde, with a market size of approximately 110 million tons per year. In contrast, "green methanol" is produced using solar energy from hydrogen and carbon dioxide extracted from ambient air through a patented DAC process. The resulting colorless liquid—also known as Atmospheric Methanol or aMethanol—is particularly well-suited as a substitute for fossil fuels due to its properties. It can be distributed via the same transport routes as crude oil and its derivatives.
70 Percent Methanol Share in Aviation Fuels by 2050
The due diligence highlights that the use of green methanol is being targeted as a medium- to long-term replacement for fossil energy in several key markets. Examples cited include its potential in the automotive sector, maritime applications, aviation, the energy industry, and the chemical sector.
For example, the maritime sector is preparing for a net-zero energy supply by 2050, with methanol, alongside ammonia and hydrogen, as the primary solution. Aviation is also planning the transition to sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) by 2050, with methanol expected to account for 70% of the mix. In the energy sector, conventional power plants are increasingly being combined with renewable energy sources, where methanol can also play a significant role.
Additionally, energy-intensive sectors such as district heating and the chemical industry, which cannot meet their needs with electricity alone, require a direct replacement for fossil fuels—such as methanol.
Share of Renewables to Reach 400 Exajoules by 2070
According to forecasts by ILF Consulting Engineers, the share of renewable fuels is projected to rise from 80 exajoules (EJ) in 2040 to 400 EJ in 2070, progressively replacing fossil energy sources. "While COP29 clearly highlighted the ongoing clash between proponents of fossil fuels and renewables, the long-term commitment to sustainable energy remains unwavering," says Thorsten Rixmann, Chief Marketing Officer of the Obrist Group. He explains, "In virtually all key industries, the course is already set for sustainability, even if the transition is often slower than anticipated, as evidenced by the current sluggish demand for electric vehicles."
Obrist Group: The Obrist Group, founded by inventor and entrepreneur Frank Obrist, focuses on innovations for global, sustainable and CO2-reducing energy concepts. The spectrum ranges from the global supply of renewable energies to atmospheric fuels (aFuels) and innovative CO2-negative (i.e. climate-positive!) drive concepts for the automotive industry. With around 380 key patents, the Obrist Group is one of the world's most important innovators in the field of sustainable energy concepts.
Further information: www.obrist.at
Press Contact: Thorsten Rixmann, Chief Marketing Officer, Phone +43 660 5642275, email: t.rixmann@obrist.at
Press Agency: euromarcom public relations, email: team@euromarcom.de
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