Haffner Energy secures initial contract for biomethanol project

“Renewable methanol is emerging as a competitive alternative to decarbonise maritime transport and chemical industries, as well as a hydrogen carrier. We are excited to participate in this landmark project in California, which addresses local challenges such as wildfire prevention while utilising abundant residual biomass,” said Marcella Franchi, Chief Commercial Officer of Haffner Energy.

Project developer OroCarbo is based in Oroville, California, where the farmland of the California Central Valley meets the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Forestry residues, from forest maintenance designed to prevent wildfires, and agricultural waste, in particular from the vast orchards that define the local landscape, will allow the methanol plant to meet its 100 tpd target.

“OroCarbo was formed during COVID to find solutions for our local abundance of biomass, at a time when heavy smoke-laden air from local wildfires coupled with face masks made breathing, the most basic human need, difficult. Since then, OroCarbo has explored many pathways to develop solutions that will be practical, reliable, and cost effective with methanol coming out as the clear winner”, said Brian Wong, Founder and Managing Member of OroCarbo, LLC. “We are very excited to be working with Haffner Energy and Maverick SynFuels to help decarbonise the chemical and marine industries. OroCarbo’s goal is to offer high value solutions for our supply chain, our customers, and our community.”

The project will require two SYNOCA 20MW modules provided by Haffner Energy to convert residual biomass to syngas, integrated with Maverick Synfuels’s syngas-to-methanol conversion technology in a single installation.

“We, at Maverick, are excited to be working with Haffner Energy and their technology for generating high quality syngas from biomass,” said Sam Yenne, Co-Founder and CEO of Maverick Synfuels.

The CI study of the project will be performed by AmSpec, a leading provider of testing, inspection, and certification services in a wide variety of industries.

The biomethanol produced is to be used primarily to decarbonise maritime transports, which make up a significant part of California’s economy.

The plant’s commissioning is expected by early 2028.

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/the-environment/18112025/haffner-energy-secures-initial-contract-for-biomethanol-project/