NTPC, India’s largest power producer, inaugurated the world’s first CO₂-to-methanol conversion plant at its Vindhyachal facility in Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh on 8 November, 2024, coinciding with the company’s 50th Raising Day celebration.
- The facility successfully completed the synthesis of CO2 captured from flue gas with hydrogen produced from a PEM electrolyzer, which was then converted into methanol at Vindhyachal plant.
- During the event, NTPC also launched hydrogen-fueled buses in Leh and introduced new IT applications.
- NTPC has been working on Gen-4 ethanol, green urea, and Sustainable Aviation Fuel.
- The company has also developed and tested ‘first indigenous catalyst’ for Methanol Synthesis and made substantial progress with hydrogen, carbon capture, and other innovative technologies, underscoring its commitment to building an environmentally-sustainable future.
Ethanol generations
- Grain based First Generation or 1G Ethanol Plant can convert the starch present in grains like rice, corn etc. to ethanol.
- Second Generation or 2G ethanol plant can convert agricultural residues like rice straw, wheat straw, energy crops etc. to ethanol.
- Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) or Bio-CNG can be produced from agricultural residue, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), cow dung etc. CBG can easily replace CNG.
- Unlike the traditional method of producing ethanol from sugar-based crops, 3G or third-generation ethanol is produced by algae from wastewater, sewage or salt water.
- Fourth-generation biofuels use genetically engineered microorganisms, including microalgae, yeast, fungus, and cyanobacteria to photosynthesize CO2 into fuel.
