Green Methanol: Gopa Tech Advances to FEED Stage for the Jorf Lasfar Project
The Moroccan project for green methanol at Jorf Lasfar has reached a significant milestone. The German engineering firm Gopa Tech has announced the launch of preliminary engineering studies, known as FEED (Front-End Engineering Design), following the completion of the initial design for the unit meant for the Institute for Research in Solar Energy and New Energies (Iresen).
Funded by the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), Germany’s public development bank, the project falls within the framework of German-Moroccan cooperation focused on converting renewable electricity into synthetic molecules.
Iresen is overseeing the project, while Gopa Tech is responsible for design, procurement, construction supervision, and commissioning. The German engineering group Griesemann is also providing support for the project.
Jorf Lasfar Selected for Green Methanol Production Testing
The facility will be designed to convert electricity from renewable sources into a liquid product that can be stored, transported, and utilized across various industrial sectors.
The choice of Jorf Lasfar is strategically significant due to its proximity to the port, industrial, chemical, and phosphate complex. This location is expected to facilitate future markets for the produced methanol, whether as marine fuel, industrial raw material, or as an intermediate for the production of synthetic aviation fuels.
The project primarily aims to test, at a pre-industrial scale, the various stages necessary for producing synthetic molecules from renewable energy.
An Integrated Chain Combining Hydrogen and CO₂
The process will rely on an integrated chain that combines several technologies. An Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) electrolyzer will produce hydrogen directly on-site, while a capture unit will collect carbon dioxide from the ambient air.
Hydrogen and CO₂ will then be used to produce methanol, with renewable electricity that may vary based on solar and wind production.
This configuration will allow for the continuous study of the facility’s operation despite fluctuations in renewable production.
The teams will also be able to measure the actual requirements for water and electricity, determine optimal storage conditions for hydrogen and methanol, and collect the necessary data for sizing future industrial units.
A Project Designed to Prepare for Industrial Scale-up
Beyond methanol production, the Jorf Lasfar platform is intended to serve as a real-world laboratory for technologies related to fuels and synthetic molecules.
It will host operators, engineers, and researchers working on aspects such as electrolysis, carbon capture, chemical synthesis, facility safety, and the certification of renewable fuels derived from non-biological sources.
The program also aims to involve the academic community, with master’s and doctoral research complementing experimental activities.
The data collected in Morocco is expected to contribute to a better assessment of the technical performance and costs associated with a future industrialization of green methanol.
Gopa Tech Initiates FEED Engineering Studies
The next phase of the project will focus on FEED (Front-End Engineering Design) studies. This stage will help define the technical characteristics of the facility more precisely before the procurement and construction phases begin.
The studies will specifically address equipment sizing, raw material and energy consumption, site organization, safety requirements, cost estimates, and preparation of documents required for consultations with future suppliers and contractors.
Gopa Tech will carry out this phase by leveraging the experience gained from German projects dedicated to synthetic fuels.
The Moroccan Project Inspired by German Experience at Leuna
The preparation for this new phase has notably been informed by a visit to the Leuna site of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) on August 11.
The German platform, currently under construction, is scheduled to commence operations by the end of 2027. Its objective is to produce synthetic kerosene, diesel, and naphtha from hydrogen and carbon dioxide.
Discussions at Leuna focused on several essential aspects relevant to the development of such a facility: equipment selection, procurement processes, financing, authorization procedures, and fuel certification.
These insights will now be adapted to the Jorf Lasfar project within the context of the FEED studies.
Moving Towards Procurement and Construction of the Unit
Once the preliminary engineering studies are completed, Gopa Tech will assist Iresen through the next steps, including procurement, construction supervision, and commissioning of the facility.
Thus, the Jorf Lasfar project represents an important step in the collaboration between Morocco and Germany concerning green hydrogen and synthetic molecules.
Ultimately, the goal is to establish a platform in Morocco capable of testing the entire production chain of green methanol, from renewable electricity and hydrogen production to CO₂ capture and final product synthesis.
