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

2. 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
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

3. 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

4. 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)

5. 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

6. 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

7. Thank you for participating!