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METHASOL是由欧盟在Horizon 2020计划下资助的研究与创新项目,旨在利用光能进行可持续且具有成本效益的CO2转化来生产甲醇。
METHASOL: Turning Sunlight and CO₂ into Sustainable Methanol – Final results
The European project METHASOL, which brought together 14 partners from Europe, China, and the USA over a period of 42 months, has come to a successful close with promising results. Its ambitious goal? To develop a sustainable method for producing methanol using only sunlight and CO₂.
Why Methanol?
Methanol is a liquid fuel that can be used directly or converted into gasoline or chemicals. It’s easy to store and transport. However, current production methods are far from sustainable. That’s where METHASOL comes in.
A Breakthrough in Solar-Driven CO₂ Conversion
METHASOL developed an innovative process to convert CO₂ gas into methanol, using materials that absorb sunlight to trigger chemical reactions — a process known as photocatalysis. The team combined advanced materials, such as Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and graphitic Carbon Nitride (g-CN), into a “Z-scheme” system that mimics natural photosynthesis.
The project aimed to achieve a 5% solar-to-methanol conversion efficiency, a key milestone toward making this technology viable.
What Has Been Achieved?
Throughout the project:
– Several new photocatalyst materials were developed and tested for their ability to reduce CO₂ to fuels.
– A tailored reactor was built to optimize reaction conditions such as light intensity, gas composition, and pressure.
– After sunlight exposure, the system produced methanol, ethanol, ethylene, and other compounds — confirming the process works.
– A full sustainability assessment showed that this method can be cleaner than conventional methanol production, especially when catalysts are reused and produced via greener methods.
– A Strong International Collaboration
Beyond the scientific achievements, METHASOL strengthened EU-China cooperation in the field of artificial photosynthesis. Events such as joint consortium meetings and a summer school at Fuzhou University provided a platform for sharing knowledge and planning future collaborations.
– A public acceptance survey showed strong support for the project’s environmental benefits and energy potential, although concerns about costs and resource use remain.
What’s Next?
While the technology is still in early development, the project laid important groundwork. The project coordinator continues to engage in discussions with key stakeholders to explore future collaborations and scaling opportunities.
Thanks to METHASOL, a new, sustainable pathway is emerging to produce methanol — contributing to Europe’s goals for decarbonization and energy resilience.
开始 - 2021年7月 结束 - 2024年12月
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那么,为什么选择甲醇作为转化产物呢?
甲醇是一种有吸引力的能量载体,具有优异的体积和重量能量值,在常温和常压下以液态储存,并可直接用作燃料或转化为可燃化合物,例如汽油。然而,甲醇缺乏一种可持续的生产途径。因此, METHASOL 项目旨在通过利用选择性可见光催化气相 CO2 还原这种可持续、经济高效的过程来生产甲醇,并计划实现太阳能到甲醇的能量转换效率为 5%。