Johnson Matthey chosen by Liquid Sunshine for new biomethanol fuel plant in China

In the UK, Guangdong Liquid Sunshine has selected Johnson Matthey (JM) as a technology partner for its first commercial-scale project – a biomethanol plant planned in Tiandong County, Guangxi. The two companies, alongside the East China Engineering Science and Technology Co. (ECEC), have also committed to work on future project opportunities together.

The Guangxi plant will demonstrate new technologies and innovation in gasification and the integration of renewable power systems. Johnson Matthey provides the methanol technology which converts gasified biomass waste into biomethanol.

When complete, the first phase – with construction expected to begin later this year- will achieve an annual production capacity of 75,000 tons of biomethanol.

If approved, a second phase will see an additional plant use the excess carbon dioxide from the first plant. It will be combined with electrolytic hydrogen to produce e-methanol which can be used to help meet e-fuel mandates, including those in Europe. This will increase the capacity for low carbon methanol production at the site without the need to use additional biomass feedstock.  

 JM’s methanol technology converts syngas from different feedstock sources, including waste biomass, into methanol.