The negative effects of climate change coupled with declining fossil fuel reserves have sparked interest in cleaner alternative fuel sources. Methanol has surfaced as an acceptable solution due to its practicality and high hydrogen content. With its increased popularity, global demand supports the advent of the mega-methanol (MM) industry. Considering current MM technologies, auto-thermal reforming presents a viable low cost, low carbon option over traditional steam methane reforming. However, greater climate mitigation can be achieved utilizing carbon capture storage (CCS) and utilization (CCU) platforms. Through the hydrogenation of captured CO₂ with clean hydrogen, directly within conventional MM production, greater methanol productivity and lower GHG emissions can be realized. Thus, in this study, we examine the use of CCU in achieving sustainable operations within the MM process through techno-economic and environmental assessments- informing on process development for future MM projects. Although our results illustrate lower GHG emissions associated with CCUS, CCS arises as the more sustainable option while CCU pathways lead to significant burden-shifting linked to increased electricity consumption. Thus, only with greater commitments to decarbonize the US electricity grid and increase research and development can CCU support a sustainable resource-circular strategy, with methane pyrolysis emerging as the most viable technological platform.

气候变化的负面影响，加上化石燃料储备的减少，引起了人们对更清洁的替代燃料来源的兴趣。由于其实用性和高氢含量，甲醇已作为一种可接受的溶液浮出水面。随着其日益普及，全球需求支持了巨型甲醇（MM）工业的出现。考虑到当前的MM技术，与传统的蒸汽甲烷重整相比，自动热重整是一种可行的低成本，低碳的选择。但是，利用碳捕获存储（CCS）和利用（CCU）平台可以实现更大的气候缓解。通过在常规的MM生产中直接用清洁的氢气对捕获的CO 2进行氢化，可以实现更高的甲醇生产率和更低的GHG排放量。因此，在这项研究中 我们通过技术经济和环境评估研究了CCU在MM流程中实现可持续运营的用途-为将来的MM项目的流程开发提供信息。尽管我们的结果表明与CCUS相关的温室气体排放量较低，但CCS成为更可持续的选择，而CCU途径导致与电力消耗增加相关的重大负担转移。因此，只有加大对美国电网脱碳和增加研究与开发的承诺，CCU才能支持可持续的资源循环战略，而甲烷热解将成为最可行的技术平台。尽管我们的结果表明与CCUS相关的温室气体排放量较低，但CCS成为更可持续的选择，而CCU途径导致与电力消耗增加相关的重大负担转移。因此，只有加大对美国电网脱碳和增加研究与开发的承诺，CCU才能支持可持续的资源循环战略，而甲烷热解将成为最可行的技术平台。尽管我们的结果表明与CCUS相关的温室气体排放量较低，但CCS成为更可持续的选择，而CCU途径导致与电力消耗增加相关的重大负担转移。因此，只有加大对美国电网脱碳和增加研发的承诺，CCU才能支持可持续的资源循环战略，而甲烷热解将成为最可行的技术平台。