CRI’s Emissions-to-Liquids™ (ETL) technology converts captured CO₂ directly into methanol through a patented hydrogenation process. By avoiding intermediate synthesis steps, the process is simpler and produces fewer by-products, resulting in more efficient downstream separation and distillation.

The technology has been developed and refined through more than 15 years of research, demonstration and commercial deployment. Key advantages include:

• High efficiency – hydrogen efficiency typically reaches 98–99% of the theoretical maximum

• Operational flexibility – demonstrated turndown to 30%, with designs available for greater flexibility when required

• Optimised heat integration to improve overall plant efficiency

• Feedstock flexibility – compatible with CO₂ from various industrial sources and hydrogen from electrolysis or industrial by-product streams

• Proven commercial operation, with performance validated through commissioned plants

CRI was also the first company in the world to produce and sell certified renewable methanol, demonstrating the technology at industrial scale.

CRI’s technology is considered TRL 8–9, meaning it has been demonstrated and validated in commercial operation.

The company has been developing and deploying CO₂-to-methanol technology since 2006, with over 20 years of experience in the field.

CRI’s technology has been implemented in multiple reference plants and continues to be deployed in new projects under development, including some of the largest and most efficient CO₂-to-methanol plants built to date.

CRI has developed and deployed its technology across multiple commercial and demonstration projects worldwide.

You can explore the full portfolio of reference projects here.

CRI’s technology does not require a minimum CO₂ concentration in the incoming gas stream. However, certain contaminants must remain below defined limits to ensure stable operation of the synthesis process.

Typical limitations apply to compounds such as oxygen, sulphur and chlorine. These specifications are evaluated as part of project feasibility studies.

Both e-methanol and bio-methanol are forms of low-carbon methanol, but they differ in the origin of their feedstocks.

E-methanol is produced by combining captured CO₂ with renewable hydrogen, typically generated through water electrolysis powered by renewable electricity.

Bio-methanol is produced from biogenic carbon sources, such as biomass, biogas or organic waste streams.

Although the production pathways differ, the resulting methanol molecules are chemically identical and can be used in the same fuels, chemicals and industrial applications.