EUBCE 2026 - Robin POST VAN DER BURG - Accelerate The Transition To A Fossil-Free Future By Producing Affordable Bio-Methanol

Accelerate The Transition To A Fossil-Free Future By Producing Affordable Bio-Methanol

Short Introductive summary

Global agriculture generates over 5 billion tons of crop residues annually, with 60% burned on fields, producing emissions equal to 3.5% of global greenhouse gases. Torrgreen and Torrgas have developed an integrated solution to transform this waste into valuable renewable fuels. The breakthrough addresses three critical barriers: 1. Torrgreen’s mobile torrefaction units process residues at source, creating energy-dense pellets with 20-30x improved logistics efficiency, operating self-sustainably without fossil fuels. 2. Torrgas’s patented two-step gasification (700°C then 1,200°C) produces ultra-clean syngas from the torrefied feedstock, eliminating traditional gasification challenges. The combined process achieves bio-methanol production at €500-600/ton—competitive with conventional renewable pathways and significantly undercutting e-methanol (€2,000-3,000/ton). It generates additional value streams including biochar for soil enrichment and food-grade bio-CO2. TheTorrgas BrigH2 facility at Chemelot demonstrates commercial viability at 7,500 tons/year capacity, proving agricultural residues can now economically supply renewable carbon for the energy transition.