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Methanol The Clean Alternative Methanol has many traditional uses including the manufacture of paints, resins, adhesives and as an automotive fuel enhancer. However, there is a forecast for rapid growth in demand relating to the use of methanol as a highly efficient, low emission fuel replacement. Methanol can be economically utilized in gas turbines for electricity generation, but the emerging fuel cell technologies offer the largest scope for this product. The majority of fuel cell designs require methanol as the fuel input, particularly in commercial and domestic vehicles. Fuel cells are an electrochemical battery, where the hydrogen derived from the methanol is passed over one electrode and air containing oxygen passed over the other. As combustion occurs within the fuel cell, free electrons pass across the electrodes providing constant electrical energy as long as the fuel and air are provided. The energy conversion efficiency levels of fuel cells are over three times higher than traditional motor vehicle engines and produce a fraction of the emission levels. The new Clean Air Acts throughout Europe and the United States are predicted to result in the rapid introduction of the fuel cell technologies. Some commercial vehicles already operate with fuel cells and both Chrysler and Mercedes Benz have announced the introduction of domestic cars fitted with the fuel cell drives as early as 2003. Most other car manufacturers have also indicated introduction by 2006.
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