Bio-e-methanol production via biogas partial oxidation integrated with solid oxide electrolyzer cell: A comprehensive energy, exergy, economic, and environmental (4E) analysis

Abstract

The demand for methanol as a marine fuel alternative is increasing. However, green methanol constitutes less than 1 % of total production due to high costs and unreliable renewable energy supplies. To address this, we propose an integrated bio-e-methanol production process that combines partial biogas oxidation and green hydrogen production via a solid oxide electrolyzer cell (SOEC) powered by renewable energy. Oxygen from SOEC is utilized for biogas oxidation, while waste heat supports steam generation. The resulting syngas and green hydrogen are used in methanol synthesis, achieving AA-grade purity (>99.85 wt%). This process achieves a methanol yield of 88.51 %, with improving energy efficiency by 177 % over e-methanol and 7 % over bio-methanol. The levelized cost of methanol is reduced by 46.79 % and 6.13 % through selling oxygen and utilizing waste heat. Finally, low power consumption reduces carbon emissions by 63.44 % and 86.46 %, confirming the feasibility of sustainable and cost-effective green methanol production. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd