Opportunities and Challenges for Methanol as a Global Liquid Energy Carrier Brad Ritts (ritts@stanford.edu) Stanford Natural Gas Initiative (ngi.stanford.edu) 31 July 2017

2008-2015 Electricity Generation Impact of shale gas on US energy and environment Abundant natural gas resources in North America to meet demand for decades to come US has demonstrated that increased use of natural gas can decrease greenhouse gas emissions 2008-2015 Electricity Generation Coal reduced from 48.2% to 33.4% Natural Gas increased from 21.4% to 32.5% Additional growth in renewables Data from US Energy Information Agency

The Stanford Natural Gas Initiative A collaboration of more than 40 research groups at Stanford drawn from engineering, science, policy, politics, and business disciplines and a consortium of industry partners to generate the knowledge needed to use natural gas to its greatest social, economic, and environmental benefit Sustaining Members Schlumberger Shell Corporate and Contributing Members American Petroleum Institute Aramco Services Azimuth Capital Gas Technology Institute General Electric IHS Markit NW Innovation Works Pacific Gas and Electric Seven Generations Energy Southern California Gas Total XTO Energy (ExxonMobil) Basic Members and Supporters Leede Operating Company Anadarko Petroleum Pritzker Innovation Fund Mitchell Foundation

The Methanol Opportunity – Reliable, Affordable, Sustainable Natural gas is globally abundant, but has obstacles to wider use It is difficult to transport and store It has limited applicability in some applications Existing methanol technologies are competitive for wide use in current applications and more broadly as an energy carrier Feedstock versatility and economic competitiveness drives interest Improvements in methanol production are possible Direct conversion pathways Improved efficiency processes Methanol is a potential renewable fuel in the future Power to fuels Potential carbon-neutral pathways to methanol Methanol production and use is accompanied by a range of environmental, health, and economic benefits and risks Need to objectively understand real risks and trade-offs Methanex non-discounted reference price for July in North America is $1.13/gallon – higher than in both Asia-Pacific and Europe (Asia has the lowest price)

Day 1 Agenda Keynote Addresses Focus on Methanol in Energy Applications Global Markets and Lifecycle Assessment Focus on International Energy and Environmental Policies Energy Access and Small Scale Use Focus on the Future of Global Markets, Business, and Industry

Day 2 Agenda Keynote Address Focus on the Future of Methanol Production Direct Conversion Renewable Energy Storage and Use Lower Carbon Pathways Discussion of Promising Approaches and Technologies

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