ExxonMobil licenses fluid bed Methanol-to-Gasoline tech to Aramco

Launched in 2022, the Hydrogen Innovation and Development Center (HIDC) aims to accelerate lab-to-market solutions and business development across the spectrum of hydrogen, green fuel production, utilization, and transportation.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the transportation sector is an essential component of the global energy transition and requires a portfolio of solutions. ExxonMobil’s fluid bed MTG technology can play an important role in helping deliver in this area. We are excited that Aramco has selected ExxonMobil’s MtG technology for this important project which is another step towards a lower carbon emissions future, said Tricia I. Delaney, President of EMCL.

Commissioning of the licensed MtG unit is expected in 2025. The unit is planned to utilize methanol feedstock derived from green hydrogen and carbon dioxide (CO₂) to produce a synthetic, high-octane, drop-in blend stock for potential use on/off-road and in racing applications.

ExxonMobil scientists developed the methanol-to-gasoline chemistry in the 1970s. After years of studies and advancements, ExxonMobil’s analysis suggests that the fluid bed MtG process is advantaged in terms of capital expenditures, operating cost, operational reliability, and consistent product quality when compared to a fixed bed process.

Aramco is exploring the production of low-carbon synthetic fuels that have CO₂ reduction potential. By leveraging innovative technologies, like the fluidized-bed MtG, we aspire to develop drop-in synthetic fuels that can potentially be rolled out seamlessly into existing vehicles, said Ali A. AI-Meshari, SVP of Technology Oversight and Coordination at Aramco.