Methanol supply and demand issues from a California perspective.

Koyama, Kenneth. Darling, Lisa.

[199?]

51
SEPARATA

Despite state policies aimed at reducing hign levels of petroleum dependency and air pollution, California relies primarily on petroleum fuels for transportation. As an alternative to petroleum-based fuels, methanol has become increasingly important because of its potential for improving energy security and air quality. A growing body of evidence also sugests that methanol could serve as a toxic substance control by displacing benzene in gasoline. In light of these findings, recent governmental and private-sector activities have been focused on methanol, creating a momentum that has substantially improved the prospects of this fuel for use in the transportation sector. Because this momentun could lead to greater demand for methanol fuel, questions of methanol supply, demand and availability must be addressed. The staff of the California Energy Commission has recently begun a comprehensive evaluation of the near and long term supply of methanol to the state. The objetive of this effort is to project the available supply and corresponding price of methanol for transportation use. In this paper findings of studies to date are summarized, and future research needs, as California moves into the 1990s, are described. Althouh much of this analysis remains preliminary, it can be concluded that methanol has the potential to become a cost-competitive alternative to gasoline in the California transportation sector.

Presenta tbls. y gráfs.

ESTADOS UNIDOS; SUSTITUCION DEL PETROLEO; DEMANDA DE ENERGIA; SECTOR TRANSPORTE; METANOL; PERSPECTIVAS ENERGETICAS;