Jiangsu Sailboat Petrochemical has begun production at a new plant in China that takes carbon and hydrogen waste and converts the gases into commercial-grade methanol for use in chemical products.
The company marked the milestone during an opening ceremony on Sept. 25 at the Shenghong Petrochemical Industrial Park.
The Jiangsu Sailboat methanol plant has the capacity to process 150,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide sourced from waste streams at the large petrochemical complex each year. The plant will use Iceland-based Carbon Recycling International’s emissions-to-liquids (ETL) technology to produce 100,000 metric tons of sustainable methanol annually.
Used primarily to supply Jiangsu Sailboat’s olefins facility, this methanol will be used to produce chemical derivatives, including sustainable plastics and EVA coatings for solar panels. This will allow Jiangsu to reduce its reliance on fossil-based methanol to drive more sustainable value chains and carbon footprint reduction initiatives across various sectors, such as industrial manufacturing and renewable energy.
“This green industrial value chain project is a significant step forward. It uses advanced green and low-carbon technology to capture carbon dioxide and turn it into a resource,” said Qian Xinhua, vice president of Shenghong Petrochemical Industry Group. “Further implementation of such technology allows us to combine green hydrogen, renewable energy, and more to create new materials, replacing the traditional raw materials used in the chemical industry.”