1- GREEN METHANOL : THE FUEL THAT CAN ACCELERATE THE ENERGY TRANSITION
Green methanol is methanol that is produced renewably and without polluting emissions, one of its variants being generated from green hydrogen. This chemical compound can be used as a low-carbon liquid fuel and is a promising alternative to fossil fuels in areas where decarbonisation is a major challenge, such as maritime transport.
WHAT IS GREEN METHANOL?
Methanol (CH3OH), also known as methyl alcohol, is a chemical compound in great demand due to its many industrial applications: as a solvent, antifreeze, in building materials and in the production of synthetic fuels, among others. As a light liquid at room temperature, it is easy to transport and store. To date, the vast majority of methanol produced is generated from natural gas, which links it directly to greenhouse gas emissions. The advent of green methanol from clean energy sources is intended to give a major boost to this compound, making it a promising alternative to fossil fuels in reducing the carbon footprint of high emitting industries such as maritime transport.
Methanol (CH3OH), also known as methyl alcohol, is a chemical compound in great demand due to its many industrial applications: as a solvent, antifreeze, in building materials and in the production of synthetic fuels, among others. As a light liquid at room temperature, it is easy to transport and store. To date, the vast majority of methanol produced is generated from natural gas, which links it directly to greenhouse gas emissions. The advent of green methanol from clean energy sources is intended to give a major boost to this compound, making it a promising alternative to fossil fuels in reducing the carbon footprint of high emitting industries such as maritime transport.
It is produced using only renewable energy sources in the process and ensuring that no harmful gases are emitted into the atmosphere. Green methanol is thus synonymous with clean, renewable methanol.
• Biomethanol : produced from the gasification of sustainable biomass sources such as livestock, agricultural and forestry residues and municipal waste.
• E-methanol : produced from hydrogen produced from renewable electricity (what we call green hydrogen) and captured carbon dioxide.
• Biomethanol : produced from the gasification of sustainable biomass sources such as livestock, agricultural and forestry residues and municipal waste.
• E-methanol : produced from hydrogen produced from renewable electricity (what we call green hydrogen) and captured carbon dioxide.
METHANOL FROM GREEN HYDROGEN
Green hydrogen is present on the roadmap of any of the economic and political actors responsible for tackling the current energy crisis and facilitating compliance with the zero emissions targets set for 2050. At TERRA and its partners, we have been anticipating and committing to the development of this energy as a key element of decarbonisation for years.
Green hydrogen is present on the roadmap of any of the economic and political actors responsible for tackling the current energy crisis and facilitating compliance with the zero emissions targets set for 2050. At TERRA and its partners, we have been anticipating and committing to the development of this energy as a key element of decarbonisation for years.
Now, the interest in green methanol production opens up a new growth opportunity for the green hydrogen sector for e-methanol generation.
Green hydrogen is generated through a chemical process known as electrolysis, which uses electric current to separate hydrogen from the oxygen in water. When this electricity is obtained from renewable sources, such as a wind or photovoltaic farm, we will produce energy without emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. If the hydrogen from these renewable sources is synthesised together with the captured carbon dioxide - in a biomass power plant after the pyrolysis process - renewable methanol or e-methanol can be distilled.
2- SALT PRODUCTION FROM THE SALT LAKE OF SABKHET MNIKHRA - BEN GUERDANE - TUNISIA
On 03/01/2019, we have been awarded a permit for production of mineral substances of the 4th group (all different kind of salts) at the location named Sabkhet Mnikhra with a surface of 800 hectares. This permit is published in the Official Journal of the Republic of Tunisia (JORT n° 18 of 01 March 2019).
The project consists of setting up an industrial unit to transform “Sebkhet Mnikhra” underground brines with a salt concentration of about 300 g/L into refined industrial-grade sodium chloride for export.
At medium terms, we intend to extend our production to produce more refined salts such us Food salt, Regeneration salt for water treatment, Pharmaceutical salt, etc.
At long term and as a strategic vision other products such as sodium and magnesium sulfate, potassium sulfate and magnesium chloride liquor are planned to be extracted and produced at industrial-grade.
3- THE SALTWATER COOLED AGRO-PHOTOVOLTAIC (SCAPV)
In the arid areas of Southern Tunisia, where annual rainfall rarely exceeds 200 mm, no sustainable agricultural production is possible without irrigation. In these areas, groundwater is the major source of water supply and the agricultural development located mainly on the coastal area has only relied on its use, as evidenced by the large increase in the number of pumping wells for irrigation purposes since the 1960s. After two decades of groundwater pumping, seawater intrusion has become a limiting factor for further agricultural development, and several negative impacts have occurred. Such as, well field productivity has decreased, water quality has deteriorated, soil fertility has declined, and this has led to abandonment of farms.
Under these harsh conditions, far more than just olive trees can be cultivated.
On TERRA’s property in Bengardane where there is a well with salted water (10 g salt/litre), on one hectare - supported by seawater cooling has been tested.
There, we have developed and completed a mobile demonstration plant.
Our new system “The Saltwater Cooled AgroPhotovoltaic (SCAPV)” which is a combination of our BRIK-KORRMANN ® technology and Photovoltaic Greenhouse
Our BRIK-KORRMANN ® system cools the Photovoltaic Greenhouse and creates a new micro-climate beneath the Photovoltaic Greenhouse rich with cooled saturated air with fresh water.
Our combined system SCAPV showed the following advantages:
• Reduces land consumption and increase the yield of land in electricity production,
• Increases water retention in the soil.
• Reduces the substructures costs and favors the resistance against wind and storms.
• Increases the efficiency of electricity production of the PV,
• Increases the agricultural production, even in arid regions by the use of sea water which is transformed through our system into a fresh water.
We have demonstrated that abandoned firms can be brought back into commercial operation with the help of solar power plants cooled by seawater.
In fact, due to the partial shading (90%) and to the cooled microclimate underneath the solar green houses where temperature is reduced by up to 15°C and humidity is increased up to 99%, a 90% water saving is achieved.
The solar green houses amortize themselves through the electricity yield and the cultivation of shade crops underneath.
By using our very effective seawater evaporator for cooling, electricity production can be increased and the plants are protected from heat and dehydration.
• Reduces land consumption and increase the yield of land in electricity production,
• Increases water retention in the soil.
• Reduces the substructures costs and favors the resistance against wind and storms.
• Increases the efficiency of electricity production of the PV,
• Increases the agricultural production, even in arid regions by the use of sea water which is transformed through our system into a fresh water.
• Reduces land consumption and increase the yield of land in electricity production,
• Increases water retention in the soil.
• Reduces the substructures costs and favors the resistance against wind and storms.
• Increases the efficiency of electricity production of the PV,
• Increases the agricultural production, even in arid regions by the use of sea water which is transformed through our system into a fresh water.
