The Forestal del Atlántico complex, in Mugardos (A Coruña), presents the “Triskelión” project for the production of green methanol. The initiative, which was started before the pandemic, will involve an investment of 130 million euros and the creation of 120 jobs (direct and indirect).
The objective is to manufacture up to 40,000 tons per year of green methanol from CO2. The latter will be captured at the company’s facilities located in Punta Promontoiro in the Mugardos estuary, Ferrol (A Coruña).
The project also contemplates the production of green hydrogen using electrical energy from renewable sources. In the process, oxygen will be obtained, liquefied and stored for commercialization. This is expected to produce up to 61,100 tons of oxygen per year.
The Xunta de Galicia has stated that the Triskelión initiative is one of the 15 projects selected by the European Commission in the Innovation Found 2020 program.
What does green methanol project ‘Triskelion’ consist of?
Firstly, to obtain the green methanol, a CO2 capture plant will be promoted to treat the combustion gases from a new cogeneration plant. This will prevent the emission of 50,000 tons of CO2 per year.
In addition, a green hydrogen manufacturing plant will be set up, which will be used to manufacture green methanol. The resulting oxygen will be stored in the facilities for internal use and for sale.
Finally, the methanol manufacturing plant itself will be located from the CO2 captured and the green hydrogen obtained. The eco-fuel will be used in the company’s internal processes and for sale. It will also replace fossil methanol. This will have a major impact on the board industry by reducing carbon footprint and improving quality standards.
The support that Forestal del Atlántico claims to have received from the different administrations responds, to a large extent, to the alignment of the objectives of this pioneering initiative with the Climate Change Agenda.
Thus, the Galician company’s proposal is based on “making the territory more competitive” by generating green methanol, up to 40,000 tons per year, from carbon dioxide and renewable hydrogen. In addition to producing hydrogen using renewable electricity and obtaining oxygen during the process, which will be liquefied and stored for commercialization, around 60,000 tons per year.
Triskelion’ in figures
Triskelion’ will guarantee the stability of the current 150 jobs at the complex in Mugarda and will add the hiring of 40 more people directly and another 80 indirectly, according to what has been discussed during the presentation of the initiative.
With an investment of 130 million euros and a construction horizon of 3 years, the start-up process would involve the hiring of between 200 and 300 people during that period.
Source: Energías Renovables (2022)