On 29 April 2025, the International Hydrogen Ramp-Up Programme (H2Uppp) implemented by GIZ Thailand, in partnership with the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce (GTCC), organised the ‘Brainstorming Workshop on Green Methanol’ at Sindhorn Midtown Hotel Bangkok. The event brought together key stakeholders in Thailand to explore ways of developing a green methanol value chain using CO₂ from biogas plants and syngas generated from biowaste, combined with green hydrogen.

This brainstorming workshop provided a space for cross-disciplinary discussions, uniting industry leaders and experts to work together on advancing technical innovations and economic strategies that support sustainable chemical solutions. This workshop was part of the broader mission of advancing green hydrogen applications and industrial decarbonisation.

Throughout the event, participants were presented with in-depth economic and technical aspects related to green methanol production and technologies. The session brought together a diverse group of speakers from academia, industry and the private sector from both Thailand and Germany. The speakers included Prof. Dr Varong Pavarajarn from Chulalongkorn University, Supharerk Yimkobkij from the Thai Biogas Trade Association (TBTA), Panupong Pongprayoon from Linde Engineering APAC Co., Ltd., Akasit Sitthivarawong from Thyssenkrupp Uhde (Thailand) and Dr Stefan Günthner from Solarbelt FairFuel gGmbH.

(From left) Prof. Dr Varong Pavarajarn, Supharerk Yimkobkij, Panupong Pongprayoon and Akasit Sitthivarawong

In addition to the expert presentations, the workshop included an interactive session where participants actively exchanged ideas and brainstormed around key issues related to green methanol development in Thailand. The discussion touched on a range of topics from the availability and logistics of feedstocks like biogas-derived CO₂ and syngas, to identifying industries that could adopt green methanol. Participants also explored technical challenges in production, infrastructure and supply chain readiness, cost competitiveness and scaling strategies, as well as policy and investment support needed to move projects forward.

As a key building block in numerous essential chemicals, including fuels, resins, plastics, adhesives, paints, coatings, textiles and pharmaceuticals, methanol plays a pivotal role in modern industries. Green methanol, produced from renewable sources, is gaining importance as a sustainable alternative, essential for the transition to greener energy and materials. This workshop provided valuable insights into the current situation and future direction of green methanol development in Thailand. The outcomes of the workshop are expected to benefit stakeholders by informing strategies, fostering collaboration, and guiding the next steps in the country’s green chemical transition.

This workshop was part of the H2Uppp programme, financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE); the H2Uppp Programme is being executed globally by GIZ. Implemented in partnership with the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce (GTCC), Thailand is H2Uppp’s regional hub for Southeast Asia. H2Uppp aims to support policy and market development for green hydrogen and Power-to-X through studies and training, the identification and initiation of public-private partnerships (PPP) and projects, and the promotion and dissemination of knowledge through the identification and connection of local and international hydrogen specialists, in particular, regarding the German private sector.

More information about the H2Uppp programme: https://www.thai-german-cooperation.info/en-us/international-hydrogen-ramp-up-programme-h2-uppp/