Social assessment report

Renewable methanol (MeOH) is considered an important fuel for hard-to-abate transport sectors and a key platform chemical for the defossilisation of products and services. The ēQATOR concept enables the production of renewable MeOH from biogas (CH₄+CO₂) derived from biomass residues and biogenic waste. Syngas (CO and H₂) is first produced via either catalytic dry reforming (only biogas) or mixed reforming (biogas plus water), followed by the actual MeOH synthesis in a second step. While syngas is conventionally produced from methane steam reforming, the ēQATOR project has developed two electrical heating concepts, microwave and resistive heating, to drive the reforming reaction.

As part of the overall sustainability assessment of the process, a social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) has been carried out that will be integrated into a comprehensive integrated life cycle assessment. The S-LCA has assessed the social risks associated with the supply chain of inputs required to produce renewable MeOH from biogas, as well as the risks relating to operating the plant.

The results show that purchased inputs contribute most to the social risks associated with renewable MeOH. The main social risk hotspot is the electricity required for the ēQATOR process, including hydrogen production, and, to a lesser extent the biogas and the infrastructure. The assessed technical design parameters, including the type of heating system, reforming method and catalyst composition, have little impact on the demand for biogas and electricity. The type of feedstock used to produce biogas (manure or the organic fraction of municipal solid waste) also has no impact on the overall social risks.

For the type of renewable electricity, the specific social risks per MWh electricity depend heavily on the origin of the materials required to build the renewable energy systems, which are often sourced globally. As many of these materials are extracted and produced in countries with high social risk levels, where social and labour standards are often poorly regulated or enforced, the overall social risks per tonne renewable MeOH vary, primarily depending on the type of renewable electricity and the origin of inputs used, and can double with renewable electricity using inputs from high-risk countries. However, the range of results for renewable MeOH remains within the range of social risks associated with fossil fuel-derived MeOH, which also varies depending on the country of origin. The social risks associated with climate change are not part of this analysis.

From a social point of view, the ēQATOR concept and similar renewable MeOH production systems should be implemented if they primarily replace fossil fuel-derived MeOH and if social risk mitigation practices are adopted. Recommendations that will contribute to the socially beneficial implementation of renewable MeOH production are provided. These include mitigation of social risks at the supplier level, where possible, reduction of the social risks connected with renewable electricity generation, regulatory measures that facilitate socially beneficial sourcing options for energy companies and promotion of diversified supply chains for more socially acceptable production and more resilient renewable energy systems.