The PRIME-Fuel project and its impact

PRIME-Fuel is part of ARPA-E’s broader $41 million initiative, the Grid-free Renewable Energy Enabling New Ways to Economical Liquids and Long-term Storage (GREENWELLS) program. This program aims to develop technologies that use renewable energy sources, like wind and solar, to produce sustainable liquid fuels. 

These fuels can be transported and stored in the same way as traditional fossil fuels, such as gasoline or oil. The technologies being developed will help produce renewable liquid fuels that can serve as clean alternatives for sectors like transportation.

“Renewables-to-liquids fuel production has the potential to boost the utility of renewable energy all while helping to lay the groundwork for the Biden-Harris Administration’s goals of creating a clean energy economy,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm in an ARPA-E press release.

Sustainable methanol production: A game changer

Methanol, though potentially harmful if misused, has the potential to become a key element in a sustainable energy future. The PRIME-Fuel project aims to produce methanol as a clean and renewable energy carrier. It can also serve as a high-energy density fuel, capable of replacing fossil fuels in various applications. 

Additionally, methanol is a valuable chemical feedstock used in many everyday products, including food packaging that extends shelf life.

“The technology developed here will provide a means for the distributed, low-cost production of methanol using stranded renewable sources of energy, including those in underdeveloped countries,” said Praveen Bollini, an associate professor of chemical engineering at UH.

According to Bollini, methanol is a “platform chemical,” meaning it can be used to produce a wide range of chemicals and products. The PRIME-Fuel project will utilize advanced mathematical modeling and SRI’s proprietary Co-Extrusion printing technology to design and build a microreactor capable of converting CO2 into methanol using renewable energy. One of the standout features of the microreactor is its ability to continue producing methanol, even when renewable energy supply dips to as low as 5% capacity.

“This ensures a consistent output while optimizing energy consumption through advanced control algorithms and real-time monitoring systems,” Bollini explained.

The future of PRIME-Fuel and renewable energy

The PRIME-Fuel team, which includes UH faculty members Vemuri Balakotaiah and Praveen Bollini, aims to develop a microreactor prototype that will produce 30 MJe/day of methanol, meeting energy efficiency and process yield targets. When scaled up to a 100 MW electricity capacity plant, the microreactor could produce 225 tons of methanol per day at a low cost, while reducing emissions by over 88%.

Rahul Pandey, senior scientist at SRI and principal investigator of the project, highlighted the broader potential of the technology: “Right now, we are aiming to produce methanol, but this technology can actually be applied to a much broader set of energy carriers and chemicals.”

The PRIME-Fuel team will continue to collaborate with partners from the chemical and renewable fuels sectors to further develop the technology. Once the prototype is completed, the team plans to scale up and commercialize the technology, with a potential market release in about five years.

“We believe that PRIME-Fuel will play a critical role in the transition to sustainable energy solutions,” said Pandey. By harnessing renewable energy to produce methanol, the project offers a clean, cost-effective solution to help combat climate change and provide valuable resources for various industries.