The technology behind Project Air

Project Air utilizes a combination of a carbon capture and utilization (CCU) process for converting captured CO2, residue streams, renewable hydrogen and biomethane, which is to be applied for the first-of-a-kind, large-scale production of sustainable methanol.  

Through Project Air, Perstorp will be able to substitute all 200 000 tons of fossil methanol used as raw materials each year at their production sites in Europe with sustainable methanol. In turn, this will reduce greenhouse gas emissions with 500 000 tons per year. 

The building blocks behind Project Air

Project Air is made possible via a few different building blocks which, when put together, can create sustainable methanol.  

Let us explore these a bit more in-depth: 

• Captured carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions: Via the use of a Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) plant in Stenungsund, Sweden, Perstorp will be able to utilize CO2 emissions directly from their own operations. This captured CO2 will act as a raw material in sustainable methanol production, thus eliminating greenhouse gases from operations.  
• Residue streams: The recycling of various residue streams from Perstorp’s production is an important building block as they contain carbon and hydrogen which can be used in the production.  
• Biogas: Biomethane, produced in biogas production plants from different types of waste, are gasified into synthesis gas. This is a key ingredient in Project Air since using fossil natural gas is not an option in the green chemical industry. 
• Renewable hydrogen: By utilizing purified wastewater and renewable electricity, Uniper will produce green hydrogen in their electrolysis plant, another crucial building block in sustainable methanol production.  

Together, these building blocks can produce 200 000 tons of sustainable methanol each year that reduces the carbon footprint of thousands of end products, CO2 emissions by 500 000 tons/year, as well as enable the chemical industry to break fossil dependency.

Biogas – a crucial resource for the success of Project Air

To produce sustainable methanol, securing a stable supply of biogas is crucial since the conventional alternative, fossil natural gas, is not an option in the green chemical industry. However, a stable supply of biogas for industrial use does not currently exist in Sweden.  

In the short term, Perstorp demand for biogas will double, from 1.5 TWh to almost 3 TWh per year. To meet the need of Perstorp and other industrial users, biogas production in Sweden must increase from today's approximately 2 TWh to over 10 TWh. In the longer term, even more is needed. 

The partners behind Project Air recognizes that Sweden needs a:  

Functioning market for industrial use of biogas

We recognize that biogas production needs to increase, and the industry must be recognized as a significant user of biogas. 

Level playing field

To function properly, the market for biogas for industrial use needs a level playing field characterised by predictable and competitive conditions which also considers support schemes in other EU countries. Thus, all current Swedish support schemes need to be reviewed and amended to create incentives for change and improve the conditions for industrial use of biogas as a raw material.  

Project Air has the potential to transform a substantial part of Sweden’s basic industry. This requires stable supply of inputs at competitive prices.  

The founding partners

Learn more about the founding partners of Project Air and how their expertise is driving the project forward here >>