Methanol Production Pathways in Nova Scotia: Opportunities and Challenges for Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage

Producing methanol through carbon capture and utilization presents a sustainable alternative to traditional methods. This study explores two main production pathways, which are further divided into four distinct scenarios. In Nova Scotia, methanol could be produced by combining green hydrogen with either biogenic or fossil-derived carbon dioxide sources. The four scenarios differ in scale, carbon source, and methanol output. Scenario 1, a small biomass plant, captures 0.033 Mt CO2/yr and produces 0.024 Mt methanol, but uses only 3% of the green hydrogen. Scenario 2, a natural gas plant, captures 0.90 Mt CO2/yr and produces 0.66 Mt methanol with 69% hydrogen use. Scenario 3, a coal plant, captures 2.30 Mt CO2/yr, converting 57% to 0.94 Mt methanol. Scenario 4, a proposed BECCS plant, captures 2.46 Mt CO2/yr, converts 53% to 0.94 Mt green methanol, and delivers the highest net-negative emissions, making it the most climate-friendly option. While Scenarios 1, 2, and 3 could benefit from retrofitting existing plants, Scenario 4 would require significant infrastructure investment to make it a reality. The study concludes that while Nova Scotia possesses the resources to support renewable and non-renewable methanol production, challenges related to CO2 availability, green hydrogen production, biomass supply, energy requirement, and public perception must be addressed.