Using methanol as a fuel for power generation has garnered significant attention due to the increasing demand for renewable energy. This study compares the energy, economic, and environmental benefits of five potential methanol-to-power (M2P) routes: direct methanol power generation and four electrochemical/thermochemical power generation routes coupled with the methanol pretreatment process. Energy conversion and distribution for each M2P process are analyzed, focusing on key technical and economic indicators, and competitive targets are established to promote the market adoption of M2P pathways. The results indicate that none of the potential M2P routes are competitive under current technical and economic conditions, with energy efficiency ranging from 16.65% to 44.28%, underscoring the need for further research and development. A projected 40% reduction in methanol costs may render routes utilizing MSR and ATRM fuel pretreatment technologies economically beneficial, with the levelized cost of electricity for all pathways aligning with the current renewable energy generation costs. Life cycle analysis exposes that carbon emissions from methanol utilization are more significant than those stages, while the combining of the latter three M2P pathways with emerging renewable methanol synthesis technologies minimizes environmental impact. Despite the uncertainties and economic risks associated with methanol-to-electricity conversion, exploration of potential application scenarios of various pathways establishes a foundation for future advancements.

中文翻译：

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从甲醇到电力：能源、经济和几种途径的生命周期评估


由于对可再生能源的需求不断增加，使用甲醇作为发电燃料引起了广泛关注。本研究比较了五种可能的甲醇发电 （M2P） 路线的能源、经济和环境效益：直接甲醇发电和四种电化学/热化学发电路线与甲醇预处理工艺相结合。分析每个 M2P 过程的能量转换和分配，重点关注关键技术和经济指标，并建立竞争目标以促进 M2P 途径的市场采用。结果表明，在当前的技术和经济条件下，没有一条潜在的 M2P 路线具有竞争力，能源效率从 16.65% 到 44.28% 不等，凸显了进一步研发的必要性。预计甲醇成本降低 40% 可能会使使用 MSR 和 ATRM 燃料预处理技术的路线在经济上受益，所有路线的平准化电力成本与当前的可再生能源发电成本保持一致。生命周期分析表明，甲醇利用的碳排放比这些阶段更重要，而后三种 M2P 途径与新兴的可再生甲醇合成技术的结合可以最大限度地减少对环境的影响。尽管甲醇制电存在不确定性和经济风险，但探索各种途径的潜在应用场景为未来的进步奠定了基础。