Primus Green Energy commissions 100,000 gallon-per-year demo plant for methane to gasoline
03 October 2013
Primus Green Energy, Inc. has commissioned its up to 100,000 gallon-per-year natural gas-to-gasoline pre-commercial demonstration plant at its Hillsborough facility. The demonstration plant utilizes Primus’ proprietary STG+ technology, which is a four-reactor catalytic process that converts syngas derived from natural gas or other feedstocks to gasoline, jet fuel, diesel or aromatic chemicals directly, without the need for further treatment. (Earlier post.)
STG+ (Syngas To Gasoline +, the plus standing for the multiple end products yielded by the process) essentially improves upon commercial methanol synthesis processes and ExxonMobil’s methanol to gasoline (MTG) process, combining them into a single-loop process that converts syngas directly to gasoline. In addition to the gasoline product, the STG+ process can also produce jet fuel, diesel and high-value chemicals by changing the catalysts and operating conditions.
Primus says that its STG+ technology converts syngas into drop-in high-octane gasoline and jet fuel with a conversion efficiency of ~35% by mass of syngas (the highest documented conversion efficiency in the industry) or greater than 70% by mass of natural gas. The fuels produced from the Primus STG+ technology are very low in sulfur and benzene compared to fuels produced from petroleum, and are ready for immediate distribution, sale and consumption using the existing fuel distribution infrastructure.
Primus’ demonstration plant marks the final major milestone before construction of its first commercial plant. Primus has engaged the services of a top-tier investment bank to help lead fundraising efforts for the first commercial plant.
To date, Primus’ primary investor has been IC Green Energy, the renewable energy arm of Israel Corp.
According to one expert this would or should never happen.
Posted by: SJC | 03 October 2013 at 05:05 PM
Well, it is all about the conversion efficiency, is it not?
Time and markets will tell. Same for natural gas to DME.
Posted by: Jim McLaughlin | 03 October 2013 at 05:28 PM
Conversion efficiency has to do with 100,000 BTUs in and 60,000 BTUs out. However, if those 100,000 BTUs of natural gas cost 30 cents versus $3 for oil, it makes a difference.
Posted by: SJC | 04 October 2013 at 05:06 AM