Future of Green Methanol: Challenges and Opportunities with Eric Bober - Ep 170

Join industry leaders at The Chemical Summit on September 29-30, 2026 in Houston, Texas.  Visit thechemicalsummit.comDiscover why methanol has become the number one alternative fuel for ships ordered in 2023 and how the race for environmentally improved methanol is shaping the future of the chemical industry. Eric Bober, Senior VP at NexantECA, joins host Victoria Meyer on The Chemical Show® to dive into the evolution of green chemicals, the urgent demand for sustainable methanol as marine fuel, and the gap between innovation and infrastructure. Victoria and Eric explore the groundbreaking advancements and the hurdles companies face in project development and market segmentation, all while highlighting the critical role of consortiums and government incentives in driving progress. Further discussing the importance of balancing traditional technology with innovative solutions, Victoria and Eric shed light on carbon capture and the strategies to mitigate risks and propel the industry forward. As the push for decarbonization intensifies, hear how methanol’s journey from commodity to green powerhouse is poised to reshape the chemical and shipping industries.Tune in to hear Victoria and Eric discuss the following topics:Green Methanol: the revolution continues and the evolution is currently "bogged down"Methanol as a shipping fuelDecarbonization: Who's paying for it? Leveraging the strengths and advantages of methanolSolutions to speeding up environmentally improved methanolMethanol's future outlookKiller Quote: "If you build it, they will come. And I think in this case, they're coming, so we need to build it. The ships are coming. They're going to come starting next year. And if we can have environmentally improved methanol, the ships will use it." - Eric Bober***Don’t miss an episode: Subscribe to The Chemical Show on your favorite podcast player. ***Like what you hear? Leave a rating and review.***Want more insights? Sign up for our email list at https://www.thechemicalshow.com