From Garbage to Green Gold: The Race for Methanol

Montauk and Emvolon move from concept to pilot phase, aiming to produce 50,000 tonnes of green methanol by 2030

8 Oct 2025

Two U.S. energy firms are betting that yesterday’s trash could fuel tomorrow’s economy. Montauk Renewables and Emvolon have begun testing compact systems that convert landfill gas into green methanol, a potential game-changer for clean energy and waste management alike.

The partners, first linked in a 2024 Axios report, are now moving from blueprints to real-world pilots. Their approach relies on modular units that can sit directly at landfills or digesters, turning waste methane into liquid fuel without the need for long pipelines or large-scale processing plants.

If the technology delivers, it could make fuel production more local and flexible. Montauk and Emvolon aim to produce 50,000 metric tons of green methanol annually by 2030, starting with demonstration projects in Texas. The liquid fuel’s appeal is broad: methanol can power vehicles, industrial operations, and, increasingly, ships. Companies such as Maersk are already ordering methanol-fueled vessels to meet tightening climate goals.

“This is the kind of innovation the biogas industry has been waiting for,” said a Wood Mackenzie analyst. “Even at pilot scale, it shows how producers might reach new markets and deliver meaningful climate impact.”

The path ahead is not easy. Safety protocols, carbon verification, and cost efficiency will all determine whether the pilots evolve into a commercial reality. Yet optimism is rising among clean energy analysts who see in this partnership a model for decentralized fuel production, one that turns waste streams into revenue and pollution into opportunity.

As Montauk and Emvolon refine their systems, their work points to a pragmatic version of the energy transition, where progress comes not from grand gestures but from clever, modular machines transforming everyday waste into something far more valuable.