Shaping the future of green methanol

Abstract

Methanol, a crucial platform chemical and alternative fuel, has recently gained recognition as a promising hydrogen-storage carrier. The global transition toward carbon-neutral economies, reinforced by increasingly stringent environmental regulations, is driving interest in green methanol synthesis based on renewable hydrogen (produced through water electrolysis powered by renewable energy) and captured CO₂ feedstock. This power-to-liquid technology represents a paradigm shift in chemical manufacturing by effectively converting intermittent renewable electricity into a storable liquid fuel or chemical while enabling a closed-loop carbon cycle. This perspective examines the past, present, and future of methanol synthesis from CO₂ hydrogenation with a particular emphasis on catalyst and process development, the concept of green methanol, CO₂ and H₂ sources, and economic considerations. We conclude by discussing the future prospects of CO₂ hydrogenation to green methanol with the aim of inspiring critical insights and further research in this field.