Opening of CO2 to Methanol plant at Svartsengi geothermal plant
The George Olah Plant of Carbon Recycling International, Svartsengi, Iceland (source: flickr/ thinkgeoenergy, creative commons)
Alexander Richter
13 Apr 2012
Icelandic American company Carbon Recycling International (CRI) is celebrating the opening of its CO2 to menthanol plant at the Svartsengi geothermal power plant in Reykjanes, Iceland.
Yesterday a groundbreaking project saw its opening ceremony at the Svartsengi geothermal power plant in Reykjanes, Iceland. Carbon Recycling International had a full house of around 200 people attending the opening celebration of its plant.
Carbon Recycling International (CRI) is a developer and operator enabling carbon dioxide capture and conversion. The company uses its patented production process utlizing hydrogen (H2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) to produce renewable methanol which can be directly blended up to 3% with gasoline according to the EU/ EEA fuel quality directive.
The company has been operating a pilote scale plant in its laboratory based on its patented process for CO2 to liquid fuels. In late 2011, the company commissioned the world’s first commercial scale plant in the world.
The CO2 feedstock and renewable power for producing hydrogen (H2) are both supplied by the geothermal power plant at Svartsengi.
The “George Olah Plant” was completed in cooperation with Jacobs Engineering, Mannvit, HS Orka and the municipality of Grindavík.
The company will procued about 5 million liters per year, fueling about 2.5% of the Icelandic gasoline market. It uses about 5 MW in power generation capacity per year (around 40,000 MWh per year) recycling ca. 5,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.
As I was told some time ago by the company’s CEO K-C Tran, the Svartsengi is a very unique location. The quality of the CO2 emitted by the geothermal plant and the power that can be used for the operation make this a very special operation. It helps decrease CO2 emissions of the geothermal plant, utilizing green power to create a green fuel. A win-win for all involved.
Congratulations to Carbon Recycling International and the team.
