UP-TO-ME
Unmanned Power To Methanol Production
UP-TO-ME is an EU funded project that targets a ground-breaking change in decentralised Power-to-Methanol production for hard to electrify applications, like marine vessels.
This project is taking on the great challenge of converting decentralised CO₂ point-sources to production sites for renewable fuels with the aim of significantly impacting the global journey to a net-zero EU economy.
UP-TO-ME
Unmanned Power To Methanol Production
A Net-Zero EU economy
What is Net-Zero
Net-Zero refers to the elimination of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, the aims is for these emissions to one day be near zero. Achieving net-zero also focuses on the removal of existing residual emissions from the atmosphere.
The journey to a net-zero environment has been marked as a priority by many organisations around the globe, as it will tackle climate change by reducing global warming.
The European Union has set ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets, with the aim of reaching carbon net-zero by 2050. Meeting these targets depends, in part on the availability of reliable and cost effective technologies.
UP-TO-ME aims to provide extensive contributions to these targets through the use of decentralised CO2 point sources to produce renewable fuels.
UP-TO-ME will develop a fully automated process for decentralised production of renewable methanol.
UP-TO-ME will evaluate produced renewable methanol as a marine fuel.
UP-TO-ME will ensure low environmental impact and better resource efficiency than current commercial renewable technologies.
The projects technical, societal and scientific objectives surround the development of game changing renewable enrgy technologies, enabling a faster transition to a net-zero EU economy by 2050!
The Maritime industry
Why we need UP-TO-ME
The maritime industry has and will always contribute towards the global and EU economy. Globally, over 90% of traded goods is transported by sea, these marine fuels release around 2,600 times more sulphur than road fuel. Sulphur in fuels releases Sulphur Dioxide into the atmosphere causing high air pollution, health risks and acid rain which can cause damage to water, soil and biodiversity.
Interestingly, it has been found that if the maritime industry were a country it would be the 6th highest in its release of emissions.
This is just one reason the UP-TO-ME project has commenced, to create a completely renewable biofuel suitable to marine vessels. This will not result in any interruption of our global trading requirements, yet, it will ensure a more efficient and environmentally friendly method is used.
The UP-TO-ME approach
How it works
The outcome of the project is a fully integrated, autonomous (unmanned) Power-to-Methanol plant, which enables the use of CO2 from biogenic point sources and locally available renewable energy. The biogas produced in the anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge contains on average 65% of methane and 35% of CO2. Our technology will capture and utilise the CO2 for methanol production and simultaneously upgrade the biogas to biomethane.
As a first byproduct, biomethane can be used as a substitute for natural gas and as a fuel for heavy goods vehicles. To push the boat out even further, the UP-TO-ME plant will also produce pure oxygen as a second by-product which can be directly used for aeration in wastewater treatment plants.
Our Project Partners
UP-TO-ME is researched and presented by 6 project partners around Europe each with a unique set of skills and expertise. Each partner is responsible for delivering their own work package within the project all contributing to the achievement of objectives and hopeful end result.
