Home News Maverick Synfuels to market biogas-to-methanol plants

Maverick Synfuels to market biogas-to-methanol plants

Fuels and chemicals

North Carolina company's Maverick Oasis BG gas-to-liquid methanol plant converts biogas from a range of waste products.

REW Staff March 6, 2015

Maverick Synfuels, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, has announced the availability of its Maverick Oasis BG gas-to-liquid methanol plant product line. The plants are designed to convert biogas from sources such as anaerobic digesters (AD) and landfills into higher-value methanol.

Maverick says that its Oasis BG product line, when paired with AD systems, is the first small-scale, economically viable solution that both reduces greenhouse gas emissions and helps solve environmental problems associated with dairy and swine waste and organic waste. The company adds that its Oasis system offers a new revenue stream for biogas producers and an alternative to generating electricity or venting destructive greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

The Maverick Oasis methanol plant uses technology that converts biogas into thousands of gallons per day of clean, AA grade methanol that meets ASTM D1152 specifications, according to the company. The Oasis plant also is modular, which allows it to be rapidly deployed to an operational location.

Maverick says producing methanol with its Oasis plant could change the paradigm for current and future biogas producers. At sites equipped with anaerobic digesters, the primary use of biogas has been to generate electricity. In addition, small amounts of biogas are purified and converted into transportation fuel, pipeline quality natural gas, or combusted directly to produce heat.

“The current economics associated with producing and distributing electricity at waste sites limits the growth of biogas conversion systems,” says Sam Yenne, Maverick’s CEO. “The potential for another, more profitable revenue stream can significantly increase this market. Biogas producers need to have a financially attractive alternative to flaring or generating electricity.”

The Maverick Oasis BG25 methanol plant has a capacity of 8,300 gallons per day of methanol. The methanol can be consumed onsite or transported to other markets. With a footprint of 50 feet by 100 feet, the Oasis BG25 plant requires about one acre to accommodate storage and tanker truck access.

By using standard assembly line manufacturing processes and replicated design, the Maverick says its Oasis system significantly reduces the capital requirements and delivery time (typically 10 to 15 months) compared to larger plants that are field constructed.

Each Oasis plant comes equipped with performance guarantees based on the designed methanol output rating. The factory-built plants are designed to be low-cost, efficient and reliable facilities, optimized to generate an attractive project rate of return.

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