Beyond oil and gas: the methanol economy

Introduction

Coal in the Industrial revolution and beyond

History of petroleum oil and natural gas

Fossil-fuel resources and their use

Oil and natural gas reserves and their limits

The continuing need for hydrocarbon fuels and products

Fossil fuels and climate change

Renewable energy sources and atomic energy

The hydrogen economy and its limitations

The "methanol economy" : general aspects

Methanol and dimethyl ether as fuels and energy carriers

Production of methanol from still available fossil-fuel resources

Production of renewable methanol and DME from biomass and through carbon capture and recycling

Methanol-based chemicals, synthetic hydrocarbons. and materials

Conclusion and outlook.

Coal in the industrial revolution and beyond

History of oil and natural gas

Fossil fuel resources and uses

Diminishing oil and gas reserves

The continuing need for hydrocarbons and their products

Fossil fuels and climate change

Renewable energy sources and atomic energy

The hydrogen economy and its limitations

The methanol economy, general aspects

Methanol as a fuel and energy carrier

Production of methanol from syngas to carbon dioxide

Methanol-based chemicals, synthetic hydrocarbons and materials

Future perspectives