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  The NREL methanol pilot plant dem-
onstration is cost-shared by DOE
and the Pacific International Center
for High Technology Research in
Hawaii. The plant will use a gasifica-
tion system developed by the
Institute of Gas Technology. Sugar-
cane residue (bagasse), abundant
in Hawaii, will be the primary
feedstock for the plant.
Utilization
In accordance with the 1988 Alter-
native Motor Fuels Act (AMFA), DOE
is conducting several methanol test-
ing and evaluation projects. AMFA
requires that an increasing percent-
age of U.S. government and private
fleet vehicles operate on alternative
fuels, including methanol, starting
in 1991. Several government and
The methanol pilot plant
private-sector fleets are participat-
demonstration is cost-shared by
ing in DOE-sponsored alternative
vehicles are on the road statewide.)
DOE and the Pacific International
fuel projects. Data on performance,
Several major U.S. companies are
Center for High Technology
emissions, and other variables are
participating in these and other
Research in Hawaii. The plant will
being collected on neat methanol,
methanol demonstration projects
use a gasification system
methanol blends, and MTBE used in
across the United States. And all
developed by the Institute of Gas
light-duty passenger autos, heavy-
three major autor manufacturers
Technology.
duty trucks, and buses. The data is
are producing vehicles that will run
sent to the NREL Alternative Fuels
on either neat methanol or any
Data Center and other organizations
methanol/gasoline blend.
for evaluation and analysis.
Such demonstration projects
Neat methanol can be used in exist-
help government and industry
ing vehicles; however, engine modi-
researchers to improve methanol
fications are required to facilitate
utilization. Several improvements
cold starts and to replace materials
need to be made before neat metha-
that can be corroded by methanol
nol is considered a viable alterna-
and M85. Methanol has a higher
tive to gasoline. Methanol's energy
octane rating than gasoline, which
density is about half that of gaso-
helps reduce engine "knock." It can
line, which reduces the range a
also deliver greater fuel efficiency if
vehicle can travel on an equivalent
the engine's compression ratio is
volume of fuel. When fueled with
properly adjusted.
methanol, today's vehicle engines
can be difficult to start at low ambi-
The availability of neat methanol
ent temperatures because of
and M85 is limited but steadily grow-
methanol's lower vapor pressure.
ing in regions such as the high-
Engineering solutions to these prob-
population areas of California,
lems have been identified, how-
where the state government has
ever, and are under development.
sponsored a comprehensive metha-
It is important to note that M85-
nol fuel and vehicle program. (Ap-
fueled vehicles do not have the
proximately 1000 methanol-fueled
same degree of cold-start problems
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