The eM-Numancia project aims to produce up to 50,000 tonnes of e-methanol per year in the heart of Spain, in the municipality of Garray, within the business area dedicated to green industries, the “Parque Empresarial del Medio Ambiente” (PEMA).
Produced from green hydrogen and biogenic CO₂, e-methanol is considered one of the key vectors of the energy transition. It provides maritime transport with a sustainable fuel compatible with existing infrastructure, while supporting the green transition of European chemistry.
Low-carbon molecule production projects have mainly emerged in Northern Europe, driven by the desire to harness hydroelectric, geothermal, and wind resources. Richly endowed with renewable resources, the Iberian Peninsula is nonetheless set to become another major European energy hub.
The simplest alcohol, methanol is a major industrial commodity with an annual global production exceeding 100 million tonnes. It is key to manufacturing many everyday consumer products, such as cosmetics and biodiesel. Today, e-methanol is emerging as a sustainable, long-term alternative to decarbonize the chemical sector and relocate its production.
In practical terms, e-methanol is produced from hydrogen and CO₂. Hydrogen is obtained by water electrolysis, a process that uses an electric current to separate hydrogen from oxygen. CO₂, meanwhile, is captured at the outlet of industrial processes, where it is purified from its impurities. These two molecules are then combined—this is called synthesis—to produce e-methanol. This synthesis is followed by distillation, similar to that used in perfumery, to remove water. The purified e-methanol is then stored in liquid form in tanks, much like petroleum or ethanol used in vehicle fuels.
Methanol also shows strong potential as a sustainable alternative fuel for maritime transport, particularly for container ships, ferries, bulk carriers, and cruise ships.
The maritime sector is indeed committed to reducing its carbon footprint, in line with European regulation (FuelEU Maritime) and international regulation (International Maritime Organization).
Beyond reducing greenhouse gas emissions, methanol drastically cuts air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide. Being biodegradable in water, it limits risks to biodiversity in the event of leaks or accidents.
In line with its European ambition, reflected in its investments in Portugal and Sweden, and the experience of its leadership in renewable development, Elyse Energy has, since its creation, built its growth strategy around two axes: France and its nuclear power fleet, and its renewable counterpart, the Iberian Peninsula.
A local team was established in Madrid and later in Lisbon to develop e-molecule production projects, including eM-Numancia, which involves producing green hydrogen through water electrolysis using renewable electricity, capturing CO₂, and synthesizing and distilling methanol.
The e-methanol produced at eM-Numancia will be classified as a Renewable Fuel of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO) under the terminology of the European Commission.
17 November 2025
5 December 2024