Multi-period supply chain design and optimization for modular methanol production driven by renewable energy

Incorporating renewable energy into the methanol production process is considered a feasible way to reduce carbon emissions and consume renewable energy. In order to facilitate the resourceful utilization of CO2 alongside renewable energy sources, while simultaneously addressing the fluctuating demand for methanol considering the distribution of renewable energy sources, a multi-period model aiming at designing and optimizing the supply chain of modular methanol production systems driven by renewable energy is proposed. The objective is to obtain the optimal methanol production sites and supply chain network configurations. According to the supply chain results, the modular methanol production system can adjust the number of production line operations and the supply chain network to adapt the changes of methanol demands. The total annual cost is 4.85 x 109 China yuan. The total capital cost is the biggest contributor with 49.60 %, followed by the electricity cost in operating cost with 33.55 %. The cost of methanol is 3367.52 China yuan/t, which is higher than that of methanol produced through traditional large-scale fossil energy processes. In order to improve the economy of the system, combinations of production lines with different capacities and the development of heat transfer systems between different production lines can be adopted. Finally, through the supply chain model, methanol production is ensured without generating surplus methanol, while minimizing system costs.