Maire’s NextChem awarded feasibility study for waste-to-methanol plant in Norway

Maire announced Oct. 20 that NextChem, through its subsidiary MyRechemical, has been selected by Mana Group and Equinor to conduct a feasibility study for a waste-to-methanol plant at Norway’s Mongstad refinery.

The project will use NX Circular™ technology to convert urban and industrial waste into chemical-grade syngas that will be further processed to produce low-carbon methanol.

The facility is expected to produce circular methanol with a low-carbon footprint, eligible under the Renewable Energy Directive criteria.

This methanol could initially replace marine bunker fuel to meet the targets of the FuelEU maritime regulation, exempting final users from buying Emissions Trading System credits and paying penalties.

Maire added that, in the future, the methanol could be used as feedstock for methanol-to-jet facilities to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) compliant with the FuelEU aviation regulation.

As technology integrator and service provider, NextChem will deliver the feasibility study to Mana and Equinor, providing the technical and economic evaluation of waste gasification and the subsequent purification of syngas for methanol production.

“We are proud to support this early-stage strategic partnership to explore the potential to develop the Nordics’ first large-scale waste-to-methanol project at Mongstad, Norway,” said Fabio Fritelli, the managing director of NextChem.

“Northern Europe represents an ideal context for replicable and scalable industrial projects, with tangible environmental and industrial benefits,” Fritelli added.