The prospect of methanol-fuel heating in northern China

A heating season lasts 4–6 months each year across the northern 18 provinces of China. During this period, the combustion of various fuels for heating contributes to severe air pollution. Several clean energy heating methods, such as “coal-to-electricity” and “coal-to-gas,” have been promoted. However, these approaches may not be feasible in all areas. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive assessment of methanol fuel to determine its viability for widespread adoption. This study aims to analyze the life cycle of methanol as a clean heating fuel in northern China, considering its environmental, economic, and energy aspects. Additionally, a decision model utilizing multi-criteria decision analysis is developed to evaluate the potential of adopting methanol for heating in northern China. The findings demonstrate that the provinces of Shandong, Liaoning, and Heilongjiang are suitable for prioritizing the promotion of methanol usage in centralized heating systems. Based on scenario analysis, it is recommended that China expands the deployment of biomass-to-methanol for clean heating in certain areas. Furthermore, if advancements are made in methanol production from CO2 after achieving carbon neutrality, it should be considered for clean heating.