Icelandic firm Carbon Recycling International is starting construction at its demonstration plant for producing methanol from CO2 emissions of the Svartsengi geothermal power plant by HS Orka in Iceland. The Svartsengi powerplant is located on the Reykjanes peninsula. 15 minutes drive from the Ásbrú Enterprise Park.

The company Carbon Recycling International, is going to build a plant that will turn CO2 emissions from the HS Orka geothermal power plant to produce methanol.

In a release this week, “IAV and Carbon Recycling International (CRI) have signed a contract for construction of the first plant for production of renewable fuel from CO2 emissions. IAV has started construction work on the plant on an industrial site next to the HS Orka geothermal power plant at Svartsengi on the Reykjanes peninsula. According to plan the plant will be ready for testing and production in March 2011. The CRI plant uses electricity and CO2 emissions from the geothermal power plant to produce renewable fuel for cars. This process is based on technology developed and patented by CRI.

At full scale, production capacity of the CRI plant will be 5 million liters of Renewable Methanol per year. The fuel will initially be introduced on the Icelandic market. Renewable Methanol can be blended with gasoline or biodiesel to make clean fuel for cars without requiring any change of engines or distribution methods. Benefits include lower pollution, better fuel efficiency and a sustainable domestic fuel supply made with electricity, CO2 emissions and water. This will make Iceland cleaner, less dependent on import of oil and potentially a net fuel exporter in the future.

KC Tran, CEO of Carbon Recycling International said: „I am looking forward to working with IAV on this project. They bring skill, knowledge and enthusiasm to bear, combined with experience and a high quality standard. This plant is a big step forward. It will help to lower air pollution in the Grindavik area and create new opportunities for members of the community as well as in Iceland as a whole.“

Carbon Recycling International has been in operation since 2006 and is owned by Icelandic and American investors. For more information please see the website http://www.carbonrecycling.is.