Study on Configuration and Scheduling Optimization of the Green Methanol Production System for the Fluctuation of Renewable Energy

Utilizing renewable energy to produce green hydrogen has shown great potential in improving energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact for global decarbonization. This makes the pathway a sustainable alternative to conventional methanol synthesis based on fossil fuels. However, the fluctuation and intermittency of renewable energy resources pose significant challenges to design a stable and economic large-scale production system for green methanol. This study proposes a coupled equipment configuration and scheduling optimization framework to develop a stable green methanol production system with fewer start–stop losses and excess renewable electricity demands. A case study of a 10,000 t/y green methanol plant in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, is investigated to illustrate the advantages of the framework. A dynamic load regulation strategy is also implemented based on the traditional optimized renewable generation equipment configuration of Homer Pro. The results show that with the proposed methodology, the levelized cost of methanol decreases from 2.44 to 2.16 RMB/kg, the payback period shortens from 25 to 13 years, and annual methanol production increases by 13.3%. Furthermore, renewable energy utilization is improved by 44%, and excess electricity reduces from 22.5% to 12.6%. The proposed framework offers practical insights for large-scale deployment of a green methanol production system powered by renewable energy, with the potential to achieve both economic competitiveness and deep decarbonization.