Alternative Fuels:

Potential of Methanol as a Boiler or Turbine Fuel

RCED-86-136FS: Published: Apr 4, 1986. Publicly Released: Apr 4, 1986.

Additional Materials:

Contact:

Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
youngc1@gao.gov

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the potential for using methanol as a fuel for producing energy from stationary sources, such as boilers and gas turbines.

GAO found that methanol is not economically viable as a boiler fuel at present because: (1) it is extremely costly; (2) it has a lower thermal efficiency than other boiler fuels; and (3) fossil fuels are relatively plentiful. Methanol has been tested, but not commercially demonstrated, as a fuel that could be used in a two-stage boiler combustion system to reduce pollutant emissions. GAO also found that: (1) methanol has technical advantages over other gas turbine fuels; (2) while methanol is more expensive than other turbine fuels, it may become more attractive than other fuels because it creates fewer pollutants; and (3) methanol may be a potential standby fuel for gas turbines during fuel supply disruptions. In addition, GAO found that: (1) it could be cheaper to produce methanol in coal gasification plants because the gas such plants produce is chemically similar to that used to produce methanol; and (2) a combination of technical and cost factors prevent the widespread use of coal and methanol mixtures as boiler fuel.

Apr 18, 2018

Apr 5, 2018

Mar 20, 2018

Mar 14, 2018

Feb 28, 2018

Feb 16, 2018

Feb 6, 2018

Jan 30, 2018

Dec 7, 2017

Nov 14, 2017

Looking for more? Browse all our products here