Methanol from Coal: Prospects and Performance as a Fuel and as a Feedstock

摘要

The purpose of this report is to provide some background information for determining a role for methanol in a U.S. synfuel strategy. To that end and as instructed by the National Alcohol Fuels Commission, ICF compared methanol from coal with other, selected coal-based synthetic liquids as fuels for automobiles and electric utilities. In addition, methanol from coal is considered as a substitute for the methanol from natural gas now used by the petrochemical industry. In this first section, the plantgate product cost estimates used throughout the report are presented and explained. Each of the next three sections consider one of the energy uses studied herein: automobile fuels; fuels for electric utilities; and petrochemical feedstocks. A final section outlines the remainder of the report.