Abstract: Green methanol has been included in China's encouraged industries for new energy. Green methanol as fuel is currently the main energy source for reducing carbon emissions in shipping. It is also an efficient hydrogen carrier, and the use of green electricity to synthesize green methanol for energy storage can solve the probleum of high hydrogen storage and transportation costs. The technical route and development status of green methanol are summarized, based on which, the development opportunities and challenges of green methanol are analyzed, and suggestions for the development of green methanol in China are given. The production cost of electric methanol mainly depends on the electricity price, while the process route of coupling “bio methanol” with “electric methanol” production may become an effective strategy to reduce the production cost. In China, the development of green methanol should integrate resource advantages and focus on location advantages. At the current stage, the focus can be on developing "low-carbon methanol" derived from carbon dioxide captured from flue gas; in subsequent stages, the possibility of utilizing carbon dioxide from biological sources should be gradually considered. Green methanol can be supplied to international shipping vessels for refueling, gradually replace exported marine fuel, so as to capture market share in green marine fuel.

Key words: green methanol, marine fuel, new energy resources, low-carbon, biological manufacturing