Revolutionary method uses CO2 to produce electricity
For the first time in the world, electricity was produced from methanol made with the use of CO2 and hydrogen at the Innovation Center Iceland on Friday January 22nd. The demonstration sets a landmark in the history of energy production in Iceland and perhaps worldwide. The project is in cooperation between Innovation Center Iceland, the nascent spin-off Carbon Recycling International Ltd., Renewable Energy Science (RES) school in Iceland and University of Iceland. Two RES students Lapinski and Kluska worked on the project at the Innovation Center under the supervision of ICI director Professor Thorsteinn Sigfusson.
By combining CO2 from geothermal boreholes and electrolytic hydrogen produced with renewable electricity in Iceland, Carbon Recycling International Ltd. produces green methanol which the project used to power a direct methanol fuel cell DMFC and produce 50W of electric power. The power was enough to drive a computer and lights. The results of the project indicate that the power of the green methanol as fuel is fully comparable to methanol produced from polluting hydrocarbons. The efficiency of the electric production measured was about 30%.
Professor Sigfusson, Director General of Innovation Center Iceland and Laureate of the Global International Energy Prize: „This is a breakthrough in Icelandic energy history. For the first time we are using a greenhouse gas usually associated with emissions from hydrocarbons to make electricity. This green methanol could, if used by our transport system or fishing fleet, save considerable import of oil and gasoline. Today, a few weeks after the Copenhagen summit, we are witnessing an option that can in principle dramatically change our carbon footprint.“
Dr. K.C.Tran, CEO of Carbon Recycling International: “We demonstrated today, the first time in the world, the use of renewable methanol to produce green electricity to drive a portable computer and light. Renewable methanol is made from carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, and geothermal energy. The demonstration is done in collaboration with the Innovation Center Iceland, the national lab of Iceland. I am very pleased with the collaboration and look forward to other breakthroughs in the future with the Innovation Center”.
Innovation Iceland is a public R&D and business support institute in Iceland. Its mission is to increase innovation, productivity and competitiveness of Icelandic business by doing innovative technology research, diffusing knowledge and giving support to entrepreneurs and start-up companies.
For more information, contact:
Thorsteinn I. Sigfusson Director General of Innovation Center Iceland,this@simnet.is,
