News
Heat from methanol production could supply thousands of homes
Published online: 06.01.2026
News
Heat from methanol production could supply thousands of homes
Published online: 06.01.2026
Home
Heat from methanol production could supply thousands of homes
By Susanne Togeby, AAU Communication and Public Affairs
Photo: Colourbox
Excess heat from methanol production could become a key source of sustainable district heating in Greater Copenhagen within just a few years. Research shows that heat from Power-to-Methanol plants could supply up to 378,000 homes in the capital region.
Green methanol is one of the most promising solutions for reducing CO2 emissions from, among other sectors, aviation. Methanol is produced in Power-to-Methanol plants using electricity from renewable energy sources and CO2 from, for example, combined heat and power plants. This process releases large amounts of heat.
Researchers from Aalborg University have calculated the potential for using this excess heat in the district heating network in Greater Copenhagen. Peter Sorknæs, one of the researchers behind the study, says:
“We see a clear potential for utilising the excess heat. Our calculations show that between 34 and 57 per cent of the excess heat could be utilised in 2030. To put that into perspective, this corresponds to the heating demand of approximately 338,000 to 378,000 standard single-family homes.”
To put it into perspective, this corresponds to the heating demand of approximately 338,000–378,000 standard homes.
In the longer term, less excess heat will be available, but utilisation will become more efficient – according to Peter Sorknæs, up to 92 per cent by 2045. He estimates that the amount of excess heat in 2045 could correspond to the heating of between 175,000 and 319,000 standard homes.
When combined heat and power plants produce district heating from waste and biomass, CO₂ is released. This CO₂ can be used together with electricity from renewable sources to produce methanol, which can then be converted into green fuel for planes, trucks, and ships. Power-to-Methanol plants generate large amounts of excess heat, which can be used in the district heating network. The researchers based their calculations on four hypothetical locations for Power-to-Methanol plants in Greater Copenhagen.
Facts: Excess heat from Power-to-Methanol
In the scientific article “Utilising excess heat from power-to-methanol plants”, researchers from Aalborg University present a detailed model of the district heating system in Greater Copenhagen, including four different locations and combinations of CO₂ sources (combined heat and power plants and waste incineration plants). Hourly operation of district heating and Power-to-Methanol (PtM) is simulated using the advanced energy system analysis tool energyPRO.
The study shows the following potential for utilising excess heat from Power-to-Methanol in Greater Copenhagen:
- 2030: of the excess heat can be utilised – enough to heat approximately 338,000–378,000 standard homes*.
- 2045: 69–92% of the excess heat can be utilised – enough to heat approximately 175,000–319,000 standard homes*.
* A standard home is defined as a single-family house of 125 m².
The researchers expect the total amount of available excess heat to be lower in 2045 than in 2030, primarily because PtM plants will become more efficient and release less heat. At the same time, combined heat and power plants will operate less as more excess heat is utilised, resulting in less CO₂ being available for methanol production. This means that PtM plants will operate fewer hours and therefore generate less excess heat. In addition, the researchers expect the overall energy system to change, with more wind and solar power and more large-scale heat pumps.
The biggest barrier to fully utilising excess heat is the low heat demand during summer, when few households need space heating. As a result, large amounts of heat will be wasted for several months each year. With the current system, it will therefore not be possible to fully utilise excess heat from methanol production. This will require planning and investment in, for example, thermal energy storage to store heat from summer to winter.
Read the scientific article:
Utilising excess heat from power-to-methanol plants
by: Peter Sorknæs, Steffen Nielsen, Iva Ridjan Skov, Frederik Dahl Nielsen and Henrik Lund