Hong Kong public utility Towngas green methanol produced at its plant in Ordos, in the Chinese territory of Inner Mongolia, has become the first such project to receive Tüv Süd Carbon Footprint Certification, underscoring the utility’s efforts in developing green energy.

The green methanol produced at the plant, which leverages Towngas’ proprietary technology to convert biomass and municipal waste into the fuel, underwent a comprehensive lifecycle assessment by Munich-based testing group Tüv Süd according to the ISO 14067:2018 standard.

The evaluation, the utility notes, covered the entire lifecycle of the product, from raw material acquisition, transportation, production and waste disposal. Results confirmed that the product’s carbon emissions comply with international standards, demonstrating significant low-carbon benefits in its production process.

As the global shipping industry strives to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, Towngas argues, green methanol is emerging as a crucial fuel choice for driving carbon reduction in the sector.

Green methanol is a chemical product made from renewable resources, such as biomass and municipal waste, that emits significantly fewer greenhouse gases compared with traditional fossil fuels when used as a fuel.

It is safe, technologically mature and suitable for use in ships and other vehicles, the utility points out, helping the shipping industry meet the International Maritime Organization’s carbon reduction targets. As a chemical raw material, it can aid in the deep decarbonization of the entire methanol industry chain, contributing to the early achievement of the national “dual carbon” goals.

“This certification helps us gain a comprehensive understanding of our greenhouse gas emission sources, emission levels and potential risks, allowing us to identify more cost-effective emission reduction solutions,” states Sham Man-fai, Towngas’ chief operating officer for green fuels and chemicals. “This will give us a leading edge among green methanol producers in Asia and lay a solid foundation for opening up the market for green methanol in chemical applications.”