The eM-Lacq project aims to produce 88,000 tons of e-methanol annually in the Lacq basin.
This e-methanol will be produced using hydrogen generated through water electrolysis, powered by renewable or nuclear electricity, and carbon captured from local industrial sources.
The eM-Lacq project will locally produce the equivalent of 30% of the fossil methanol currently imported into France from gas-producing countries, while contributing to the transition of the region and preserving its industrial focus.
Co-located with the BioTJet project, eM-Lacq follows an industrial ecology model, focused on material exchanges to optimize co-product value, share infrastructure, and improve process efficiency. Both projects have been developed together under the E-CHO initiative.
Methanol is a key raw material for industry, with global production exceeding 100 million tons per year. It is essential in the manufacturing of many everyday products, such as cosmetics. In France, industries import between 600,000 and 800,000 tons of methanol annually.
E-methanol is identical to fossil methanol in its composition. The difference lies in the production method and its environmental impact. E-methanol is produced using renewable or nuclear electricity to generate hydrogen through water electrolysis, and carbon captured from industrial processes. The hydrogen (H₂) and carbon (CO₂) are then combined to form e-methanol (CH₃OH). This mixture is distilled, similar to the process in perfumery, to remove the water and then stored in existing infrastructure.
The production of e-methanol thus reduces greenhouse gas emissions by at least 70% compared to conventional methanol, while contributing to industrial sovereignty and green reindustrialization.
In addition to its use as a raw material for decarbonizing the chemical industry, e-methanol is becoming one of the key pillars of maritime transport decarbonization.
Methanol has the advantage of being able to replace conventional marine fuels today. It relies on existing transportation and bunkering infrastructure, and engines are available from major suppliers such as MAN, Rolls-Royce, and Wärtsilä, offering “dual-fuel” solutions. Moreover, it helps address air pollution challenges.
More than 270 vessels are either in operation or ordered by major operators like Maersk or CMA-CGM, representing an additional demand of about 5 million tons per year.