Press

As part of MI’s membership, HIF Global will collaborate with other industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to promote the adoption of methanol-based solutions and e-Fuels in the transition to a low-carbon future.

For more information about HIF Global, please visit their website.

The Methanol Institute (MI) is pleased to welcome Bia Energy Operating Company LLC as a new member. Bia Energy is developing a cutting-edge low-carbon methanol production facility in Shreveport, Louisiana, with the capacity to produce approximately 550,000 metric tons (183 million gallons/692 million liters) of blue and bio-methanol annually.

The Methanol Institute (MI) is concerned and saddened to learn of what appears to be a bootleg alcohol poisoning incident in Laos, which as of now has tragically cost the lives of 6 people who are believed to have died due to consuming alcohol illegally tainted with methanol.

The Methanol Institute (MI) is pleased to welcome Oxylus Energy P.B.C. as our newest member. Oxylus Energy is a leading green methanol company and climate solution provider. Oxylus Energy produces green methanol via direct electrochemical conversion of industrial carbon dioxide to green methanol for the global transition towards a low-carbon economy by offering a scalable and sustainable fuel supply, tailored to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors such as shipping, aviation, and chemical manufacturing.

A new white paper prepared for the Methanol Institute by Dr Jeroen Dierickx, an energy and fuel expert at iDefossilise, concludes that the FuelEU Maritime Regulation and EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) will create a level playing field for bio- and e-methanol, making them economically competitive compared to fossil marine fuels.

The Methanol Institute (MI) is excited to announce the appointment of a dynamic new team to lead its European operations from its Brussels office. Effective immediately, the team will be spearheaded by Tim Eestermans as Managing Director Europe, Dr. Richard Burchill as Director for Research Strategy & Knowledge Exchange Europe, and Rik Servais as Director for Government Affairs & Institutional Strategy Europe.

The Methanol Institute (MI) is proud to announce the appointment of Aria Koutra as Global Communications Manager. Based in Washington, D.C., Aria will lead MI’s global communication strategy, recognizing the pivotal role of communication in the energy transition.

The Methanol Institute (MI) is pleased to welcome Oxylus Energy P.B.C. as our newest member. Oxylus Energy is a leading green methanol company and climate solution provider. Oxylus Energy produces green methanol via direct electrochemical conversion of industrial carbon dioxide to green methanol for the global transition towards a low-carbon economy by offering a scalable and sustainable fuel supply, tailored to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors such as shipping, aviation, and chemical manufacturing.

A new white paper prepared for the Methanol Institute by Dr Jeroen Dierickx, an energy and fuel expert at iDefossilise, concludes that the FuelEU Maritime Regulation and EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) will create a level playing field for bio- and e-methanol, making them economically competitive compared to fossil marine fuels.

The Methanol Institute (MI) is excited to announce the appointment of a dynamic new team to lead its European operations from its Brussels office. Effective immediately, the team will be spearheaded by Tim Eestermans as Managing Director Europe, Dr. Richard Burchill as Director for Research Strategy & Knowledge Exchange Europe, and Rik Servais as Director for Government Affairs & Institutional Strategy Europe.

The Methanol Institute (MI) is proud to announce the appointment of Aria Koutra as Global Communications Manager. Based in Washington, D.C., Aria will lead MI’s global communication strategy, recognizing the pivotal role of communication in the energy transition.

The Methanol Institute (MI) has been granted consultative status by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Consultative status is reserved for non-governmental, international organizations that have the capability to make a substantial contribution to the work of IMO. MI will now be able to attend meetings as an observer and offer expert input on discussions in plenary and working groups.

The Methanol Institute (MI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Alexander Döll as its new Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately.

He will take on his global position from MI’s Brussels office, with his onboarding commencing in Washington DC. Alexander will draw on his extensive background experience in the chemical industry and the energy transition, having previously held leadership positions at OCI Global, Dow and Hill & Knowlton.

The Methanol Institute and Aramco are pleased to announce their joint report, showcasing the decarbonization potential of low-carbon e-fuels in China’s road transport sector and supported by member companies, including Geely Holding Group and OCI Global.

The Methanol Institute (MI) is pleased to welcome StormFisher Hydrogen Ltd. as our newest member. StormFisher Hydrogen Ltd. develops, owns, and operates electrolysis-based clean fuel production facilities in North America. With its track record in developing and operating clean fuel facilities, StormFisher serves its customers with a sustainable and reliable fuel supply, to meet the needs of traditionally hard to decarbonize sectors.

The Methanol Institute (MI) and SEA-LNG, key representatives of the methanol and liquefied natural gas (LNG) industries respectively, express their deep concerns following the recent announcement by the European Commission impacting the trade of biomethane and biomethane-based biofuels such as biomethanol.

2023 was an extraordinary year as the methanol industry moved to seize the unique opportunity presented by methanol’s rise to prominence as a preferred marine fuel of the future. One of the highlights at the start of 2024 was the proclamation by Riviera Maritime Media that “Methanol as a marine fuel emerged as the biggest story of 2023.” This sentiment is borne out by the numbers, with well over 260 methanol newbuild vessels on order from the world’s shipyards, and methanol further solidifying its place as a mainstream fuel option with vessel orders surpassing those of LNG for 2023.

The Methanol Institute (MI) has partnered with Finland’s GENA Solutions Oy on the development of a robust database of biomethanol and e-methanol projects. The database identifies 131 methanol production projects globally, with total projected capacity rapidly expanding to 19.5 million metric tons (6.5 billion gallons/24.6 billion liters) by 2028.

The European Union’s Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA) seeks to fortify the manufacturing capacities of climate-friendly technologies, with the methanol industry set to directly benefit from this initiative. The NZIA aims to expedite the adoption of green technologies through streamlined bureaucratic processes, including shortened approval procedures, which are anticipated to accelerate the deployment of these technologies significantly.

The Methanol Institute is pleased to welcome Cargill Ocean Transportation as our newest member. Cargill Ocean Transportation is a leading freight-trading organization that charters around 650 vessels worldwide at any one time.

MI is pleased to welcome Oberon Fuels as our newest member. California-based Oberon Fuels is on a mission to decarbonize the fuel and energy sectors through the commercialization of low-carbon fuels. The company’s proprietary process converts organic wastes into renewable methanol, DME and hydrogen to meet market demands.

MI is pleased to welcome Royal Caribbean Group as our newest member. Royal Caribbean Group is one of the leading cruise companies in the world, with a global fleet of 64 ships traveling to approximately 1,000 destinations around the world. Royal Caribbean Group is the owner and operator of three award-winning cruise brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises, and it is also a 50% owner of a joint venture that operates TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.

MI, in collaboration with industry leaders including CEWEP, eFuel Alliance, Eurogas, ESWET, Fertilizers Europe and FuelsEurope, has taken a significant step towards advancing sustainability in European industry. The coalition has jointly sent a letter to the European Commission, Council of the EU, and European Parliament calling for the definition of Sustainable Alternative Fuels within the Net Zero Industry Act to be recognized as “Strategic Net Zero Technology.”

MI is pleased to welcome Kjeld Aabo to the association as a Senior Advisor. In his 40-year career at MAN Energy Solutions, Aabo held a variety of positions, including as Head of the MAN Research Center in Copenhagen, and most recently as Director of New Technology Promotion for 2 Stroke Engines. Kjeld has an extensive wealth of knowledge of the marine industry and played a leading role in the development of MAN’s 2-stroke methanol engine offerings. As of September 2023, over 150 of these engines are in MAN’s orderbook.

The Methanol Institute is pleased to welcome Linde as our newest member. Linde is a leading global industrial gases and engineering company with 2022 sales of $33 billion. The company serves a variety of end markets such as chemicals & energy, food & beverage, electronics, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and mining.

The Methanol Institute, the trade association for the global methanol industry, today published a position paper to support the European Union’s ambition to achieve carbon neutrality in the industry through the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA).

The Methanol Institute is pleased to welcome Madoqua Renewables (Madoqua) as our newest member. Madoqua is currently developing a world-scale e-methanol project, located in Maceira, Portugal. The project Madoqua Synfuels aims to decarbonize the end-use and maritime industry by supplying more than 260,000 tons of e-Methanol per year to ports across Portugal.

The accelerating pace of the energy transition in shipping makes it essential that the industry provides support to the people who are part of this journey.

Training remains a key priority for IBIA as we move into a greener and more sustainable future addressing the needs of future manpower training and the future-proofing of the existing workforce. To further the cause of a skilled and competent bunker workforce.

The Methanol Institute is pleased to welcome PuriFire Labs as our newest member. PuriFire is pioneering carbon-neutral methanol production to decarbonise the global shipping, power generation and chemical industries.

PuriFire provides a unique pathway to carbon-neutral methanol by combining its patented carbon capture and hydrothermal gasification technologies to generate carbon-neutral methanol in proprietary high-pressure reactors. This novel methanol process eliminates the utilisation of expensive electrolysers and compressors, reducing the total cost of production.

The Methanol Institute has welcomed multi-disciplinary methanol consultancy GREEN MARINE as its latest member.

The Denmark-headquartered company has recently finalised a specialist training programme for crews onboard Methanol dual-fuel vessels, supplementing baseline regulatory training requirements with practical, experience-based learning.

The Methanol Institute has published the first comprehensive guide to methanol as a marine fuel. As the shipping industry continues its transition towards net carbon-neutral operations, owners are increasingly choosing methanol as a fuel that can help them progressively reduce emissions in line with regulatory targets.

Today, the Methanol Institute (Singapore) Beijing Representative Office launched its official WeChat account in China (in Chinese: 全球甲醇行业协会北京代表处).

This marks an important step after MI’s BJ office became officially registered as an NGO in 2022, marking the full functioning of the office under China’s Overseas NGO Law.

MI is pleased to welcome PMW Technology as our newest member. PMW Technology are the inventers and owners of a patented cryogenic carbon capture technology called A3C. The technology is able to capture up to 99% of CO2 from exhaust gases producing high-purity liquid CO2 directly from the process without a need for further treatment. This means that the captured CO2 is directly available for use in other industrial processes such as the production of e-methanol.

2022 was an extraordinary year, as the Covid pandemic finally began to recede, and the methanol industry moved to seize the unique opportunity presented by methanol’s rise to prominence as a preferred marine fuel of the future. One of the highlights thus far at the start of 2023 was an article headline in the Wall Street Journal, which proclaimed, “Methanol Takes Lead in Shipping’s Quest for Green Fuel,” this further supports the lobbying efforts the Methanol Institute has been pursuing for the last 8 years to educate the shipping industry of methanol’s use as a marine fuel.

MI is pleased to welcome Ørsted as our newest member. Ørsted develops, constructs, and operates offshore and onshore wind farms, solar farms, energy storage facilities, renewable hydrogen and green fuels facilities, and bioenergy plants. Headquartered in Denmark, and with a global presence across Northern Europe, North America, and APAC, Ørsted employs approximately 8,000 people.

The Methanol Institute is pleased to welcome Carbon-Neutral Consulting LLC (CNC) as the association’s newest member company. CNC provides business strategy counsel to companies faced with opportunities and challenges related to the energy transition.

CNC grew out of the Clinton Climate Initiative’s Simple Molecules Program, which undertook pioneering work in the early 2010s that focused on methanol, dimethyl ether, and ammonia as climate-friendly hydrogen carriers.

Marine design and engine developer ScandiNAOS AB, Chalmers University of Technology and the Swedish Maritime Administration (SMA) have launched a project to develop dual-fuel kits for conversion of new and existing diesel engines to methanol operation.

The methanol dual-fuel kit is unique since it will be generic and possible to fit to a large range of existing diesel engines of different brands. The kit will target engines up to 1000 kW and will accelerate the transition to low emission fuel and sustainable operations for marine and industrial applications.

Leading companies from across Europe’s fuel production chain have joined with NGOs to press the European Union’s legislators to provide the clarity and certainty they need to make long term investments in the renewable fuels required for the clean energy transition.

In a letter to the EU Council, Parliament and Commission, 47 entities, representing the entire value chain of green fuels including suppliers, users and maritime technology providers, have called for the maintenance of the proposed 2% sub quota of renewable fuels of non biological origin with the final text of FuelEU Maritime and its application to all shipping companies.

The Methanol Institute has appointed Rafik Ammar as Manager of Government and Public Affairs Europe, serving in the Brussels office for the methanol industry’s global trade association. In his role for MI, Mr. Ammar will apply his expertise in the European legislative process to support the association’s government relations strategy in Europe, leading stakeholder engagements to effectively share the perspectives of the methanol sector with policymakers.

MI is pleased to welcome European Energy as our newest member. European Energy develops, finances, constructs and operates wind and solar farms as well as large-scale Power-to-X (PtX) plants. Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, the company has a strong track record of developing projects in 26 countries. Founded in 2004, European Energy has a development pipeline of more than 40 GW of renewable energy projects and is currently constructing more than 1 GW of new energy capacity annually.

MI has released an interactive map on its website (www.methanol.org/renewable/) tracking more than 80 renewable methanol projects around the globe that are projected to produce more than eight million metric tons (2.7 billion gallons or 10 billion liters) per year of e-methanol and bio-methanol by 2027. Curated by the MI team based on publicly announced projects, the database provides a novel look at the anticipated growth of renewable methanol production.

MI is pleased to welcome Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (Norwegian) as our newest member. Norwegian is a leading global cruise company that operates the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands. The company has a combined fleet of 29 ships that offer itineraries to approximately 500 destinations worldwide and a robust pipeline of eight additional ships on order through 2027.

MI has welcomed comments made by the chairmen of China Merchants Energy Shipping and COSCO Shipping Bulk, that the two companies will focus on Methanol marine fuel as their primary area of research in the future.

CMES chairman Xie Chunlin and Gu Jinsong, Chairman of COSCO Shipping Bulk made the comments in a meeting held in late August, during which the two reviewed the co-operation between their companies and exchanged views on the shipping industry’s low-carbon transformation.

MI announced that Matthías Ólafsson has been appointed Chief EU Representative of the trade association effective immediately. In his new role, Mr. Ólafsson will provide strategic vision and functional expertise in overseeing MI’s government and public affairs in Europe. He will lead stakeholder relations and the association’s undertaking to represent a strong voice for the methanol sector among policymakers in Brussels. Matthías succeeds Eelco Dekker who had served as MI’s Chief EU Representative since 2014.

The Methanol Institute (MI) and FASTWATER have released a video highlighting the benefits of Methanol as a marine fuel for small craft operating in ports and inshore waters. The film highlights the launch in late 2021 of the first pilot boat operated by the Swedish Maritime Administration converted to run on methanol by the FASTWATER consortium. The conversion is the first of a potential fleet conversion by the SMA, adopting Methanol to lower pollution and cut carbon emissions.

MI, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly drive the use of methanol as an alternative fuel for different applications and promote sustainable pathways of methanol production in India. Methanol, which has been on the government’s agenda since 2016, is a strategic product that presents an opportunity for India to achieve the 2070 net-zero vision and ensure energy security.

MI is pleased to welcome Alfa Laval as a new member of the association. Headquartered in Sweden, Alfa Laval has been supplying equipment and services to the marine industry for over a century and is active in the areas of Energy, Marine, and Food & Water, offering its expertise, products, and service to a wide range of industries in some 100 countries. The company is committed to optimizing processes, creating responsible growth, and driving progress – always going the extra mile to support customers in achieving their business goals and sustainability targets.

MI is pleased to welcome Air Company as our newest member. Air Company is a carbon technology company based in New York that ideates and creates products for the future. Launched in 2019, they have invented a scalable Carbon Conversion Reactor that runs on 100% renewable energy to convert captured carbon dioxide (CO2) into impurity-free, carbon-negative alcohols, with oxygen and water as the only byproducts. The technology mimics photosynthesis in a more efficient manner and only requires three inputs; air (CO2), water, and sun (renewable energy).

MI is pleased to welcome ControlRooms as our newest member company. ControlRooms is the AI-powered monitoring and collaboration tool for critical infrastructure. Its SaaS application is used by chemical plants to reduce unplanned outages by monitoring plant operations in real-time and facilitating troubleshooting among operations, engineering, reliability, security and business teams.

The Methanol Institute is pleased to welcome Aker Clean Hydrogen as our newest member company. Based in Norway, Aker Clean Hydrogen develops, builds, owns, and operates clean hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol facilities globally to solve industrial climate challenges within hard-to-abate sectors. Aker Clean Hydrogen’s industrial target is to reach 5 GW net installed capacity by the end of this decade.

The Methanol Institute is hosting a webinar titled Methanol’s role in India’s Energy Mix on April 12, 2022 at 1400 hrs (IST). The webinar will feature speakers from NITI Aayog-Government of India, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), and Argus Media who will discuss the policy initiatives, opportunities for the methanol industry, and the potential role of methanol in the country’s energy transition and ensuring energy security.

During a virtual meeting held today, the Methanol Institute’s Board of Directors elected Anita Gajadhar, Managing Director Marketing and Logistics for Proman, as their new Board Chair. Ms. Gajadhar takes over the Board Chair role from Kevin Struve of OCI N.V., who served as MI Board Chair for the past three years.

MI is pleased to welcome Glocal Green as our newest member company. Norway’s Glocal Green produces bio-e-methanol by utilizing residual raw materials such as logging residues and/or other industrial waste not good enough to be used in commercial products. Glocal Green’s first concept phase will concentrate on tops, branches, and other residues from logging, sawmill waste, demolition wood and, eventually, fish-farming sludge, agricultural waste, and other biomass which would otherwise be discarded or left to rot.

MI is pleased to welcome Silent- Power AG as a new member to the association. Silent-Power is an innovative Swiss SMC focusing on the introduction of a CO2 neutral energy economy based on emission-free green or synthetic Methanol.
Silent-Power develops power plants, outdoor heaters, and mobile energy solutions, as well as further innovative machines operating on synthetic methanol.

MI is pleased to welcome SunHydro, Inc. as our newest member company. SunHydro is a global leader in providing methanol-based hydrogen energy solutions, including hydrogen gas provisioning and hydrogen-electricity power facilities. SunHydro’s products range from HRS-in-a-container supported by methanol-reforming, methanol/hydrogen power station/mini-grid, exchangeable-canister-type hydrogen vehicles with 2- 3- 4- wheelers supported by methanol-reforming hydrogen refilling system, etc.

MI is pleased to welcome TotalEnergies Marine Fuels as our newest member company. TotalEnergies Marine Fuels is global, multi-energy company TotalEnergies’ dedicated business unit in charge of worldwide bunkering activities.

MI is pleased to welcome Evos as the association’s newest member company. Evos is a European tank storage platform, featuring 6.3 million cubic meters of storage capacity divided over 8 terminals in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Ghent, Hamburg, Algeciras and Malta.

The Methanol Institute is hosting a webinar titled: Full Steam Ahead: Methanol and Maritime Policy Under EU’s Fit for 55″ on February 15, 2022, 1400 HRS (CEST). The webinar will feature speakers from global shipping company Mærsk, methanol producer Proman, and the European Parliament. They will share their vision on the regulatory landscape taking shape for alternative marine fuels in Europe and the potential role of methanol in the energy transition of European shipping.

In December 2015, policymakers from 175 countries came together in Paris to negotiate a historic treaty that set up a global framework to avoid climate change and limit global warming to 1.5°C. The Paris Agreement is the first universal, legally binding global climate change agreement. Although the EU has taken its commitment seriously, cutting GHG emissions by 23% compared to 1990 levels by 2018, EU policymakers sought to move further, towards carbon neutrality, and to transform the EU into a sustainable and yet competitive economy.

MI is pleased to welcome Vertoro as the association’s newest member company. Vertoro produce a sustainable methanol drop-in fuel and chemical building block from agricultural and forestry residues which is branded Goldilocks^®.

The EU’s Fit for 55 agenda can be an opportunity for progress on shipping emissions and the catalyst for greater availability of alternative marine fuels – but the EU must support the industry during the transition, writes Matthias Ólafsson of The Methanol Institute.

The Methanol Institute is hosting a webinar titled Fit for 55: Power-to-X in Europe´s Energy Transition. The webinar will feature speakers from the eFuel Alliance, Liquid Wind, and CEFIC. They will elaborate on the implications of the Fit for 55 package for the production of fuels and chemicals sourced from renewable electricity (RFNBOs) and their allotted role in the energy transition of industry and mobility.

MI is pleased to welcome Danaos Shipping as the association’s newest member company. Danaos is an international provider of seaborne transportation services and one of the world’s leading providers of containership operations.

MI is pleased to welcome ABEL Energy as our newest member company. ABEL Energy is proposing to build and operate a series of green hydrogen and methanol projects throughout Australia, using the country’s abundant solar and wind energy resources. When carbon is required as an input, ABEL Energy will use CO2 extracted directly or indirectly from the air, not carbon from the ground.

MI is pleased to welcome Casale SA as the association’s newest member company. Casale is a global provider of integrated solutions for the production of fertilizers, methanol and other base chemicals. The company, established in 1921, is a privately-owned Swiss company, with headquarters in Lugano (Switzerland).

MI recently launched the India Methanol Economy Coalition (IMEC), a first-of-its-kind coalition in India to promote the adoption of methanol as an energy product in India. IMEC brings together diverse stakeholders around a common goal of augmenting the methanol economy.

Methanol Institute expresses the association’s full support for the European Commission’s proposed revision of the Energy Taxation Directive under the Fit for 55 packages. The central feature of the revision introduced in July is the restructuring of EU taxation of fuels to reflect actual energy content and environmental performance, rather than volumetric weight.