Johnson Matthey to supply biomethanol technology for China plant

ENGINEERING firm Johnson Matthey has partnered with Chinese green energy developer Guangdong Liquid Sunshine to build a biomethanol plant in Tiandong County, Guangxi.

Johnson Matthey will provide its methanol synthesis technology to convert gasified biomass waste into biomethanol. The plant is expected to have a production capacity of 75,000 t/y.

China is already the world’s largest producer and consumer of methanol and is rapidly expanding its renewable output, with production forecast to reach around 8.7 Mt by 2028, according to chemical analytics firm Gena Solutions.

Johnson Matthey, Liquid Sunshine and the East China Engineering Science and Technology (ECEC) have also signed an agreement to collaborate on future low-carbon projects.

Methanol technology

Johnson Matthey’s process can use a range of feedstocks, particularly waste biomass, converting the resulting syngas into biomethanol.

The technology has been deployed at commercial scale, with this deal representing the second green methanol plant licence in China.

Alberto Giovanzana, CEO of catalyst technologies at Johnson Matthey, said: “Our world-leading methanol synthesis technology will play an increasingly vital role as the site eventually integrates biomethanol with e-methanol production.”

China's green plan

The project aligns with China’s latest five-year plan (2026–2030), which aims to accelerate the energy transition by increasing production of low-carbon fuels including methanol, ammonia and sustainable aviation fuel.

Giovanzana added: “Johnson Matthey has worked in China for more than 30 years with the country’s largest, most successful energy and chemical producers.”

Construction on the first phase of the plant will begin this year. A second phase is under discussion and could include a separate facility to convert CO2 from the biomethanol plant, combined with electrolytic hydrogen, into e-methanol.