Italy – The basic engineering contract for a waste to methanol and hydrogen plant to be located in Empoli, Italy, has been awarded by Alia Servizi Ambientalia to Maire Tecnimont’s MyRechemical.

Included in the scope of work are the plant’s fundamental engineering design and the delivery of the necessary paperwork to launch the plant’s public authorization procedure with the Tuscany region. By the end of 2022, the basic engineering phase is anticipated to be finished.

Gasification process

Once approved and finished, the facility will process 256,000 tons of non-recyclable waste annually and generate 1,400 tons of hydrogen and 125,000 tons of methanol. MyRechemical’s chemical conversion technology, which enables the recovery of waste that cannot be mechanically recycled or other types of unsortable dry waste, will be advantageous to the plant.

Through the gasification process, the waste’s carbon and hydrogen are transformed into a synthesis gas that is used to create low-carbon methanol and hydrogen. By using this method, atmospheric pollution is prevented. Methanol is employed in the chemical and manufacturing sectors as a secondary raw material or as an alternative fuel for environmentally friendly transportation. Hard-to-abate and energy-intensive industries can be decarbonized using hydrogen in low-carbon industrial processes.