Methanol, or methyl alcohol, is the simplest alcohol, appearing as a colorless liquid with a distinctive smell.

Nowadays, it is considered one of the most useful chemical compounds. In fact, it is one of the most promising building blocks for obtaining more complex chemical structures, such as acetic acid, methyl tertiary butyl ether, dimethyl ether, methylamine, etc. Furthermore, methanol is also considered a promising clean-burning fuel with a high octane number.

Methanol—the safe clean, and versatile energy source of the future

The versatility of methanol is making it a common fuel resource in the power generation industry. At MGC, we use methanol as a fuel source not only in liquid form, but also in the form of highly efficient fuel cell batteries. Locations and conditions where it is impractical to utilize commercial power commonly currently use rechargeable batteries, solar cells, and gas-powered engine generators. MGC direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) offer another solution that is unmatched for its efficiency and versatility.
Unlike standard hydrogen fuel cells that use hydrogen gas as a fuel source, DMFC uses a unique metamix of concentrated 54% liquefied methanol. The concentrated fuel enables consistent power production as long as the fuel lasts, making it more stable than hydrogen as well as lighter in weight and more compact, making it easier to store and transport. This makes it an ideal fuel for power generation in emergency situations, such as after a disaster, as a back up fuel source, and as a main fuel source for sites beyond the reach of power grids. Portable power sources using DMFC are also quieter than gasoline-powered generators and do not emit harmful gases, such as carbon monoxide or nitrogen oxide. This makes DMFC suitable for projects and events held either outside or inside. Outside, DMFC generators are virtually silent from a distance of just 2-3 meters, and just four liters of metamix can power a 200 Watt generator for over eight hours. Its versatility, safety, reliability, and environmental attributes are poised to make methanol a core energy source that is in the future.