Emvolon, a startup that turns biogas into methanol, has raised $22 million in a series A round. Its modular systems convert biogas from landfills, anaerobic digestion facilities and other sources into methanol. The company spun out of MIT in 2021.
The round included VX Ventures, Wagner Carbon and MassVentures. MassVentures has backed Emvolon since 2023. The money will fund the first commercial-scale system. Emvolon plans to deliver units to landfills, dairies, wastewater treatment plants and industrial flare gas sites.
Methanol gives biogas producers an option beyond renewable natural gas. The transport fuel market for RNG has become somewhat saturated. Methanol has drawn some support from the maritime industry, which is seeking alternatives to fossil fuels. CEO Emmanuel Kasseris has also cited its use as a gasoline blend-in in Europe.
Emvolon has tested the technology at WM’s Atascocita Landfill near Houston. The pilot with Montauk Renewables began two years ago and turned landfill gas into methanol. In August, Emvolon announced an offtake agreement and investment from Freepoint Commodities worth up to $450 million. Under the seven-year deal, Freepoint can serve as the primary buyer for up to 300,000 tons of fuel a year.
Other startups are also targeting smaller landfills. The largest US landfills are nearing completion of their own gas-to-RNG projects.
Priya Yadav of MassVentures said the standardized, modular platform could change the economics of distributed clean fuel production. Kasseris said the round gives Emvolon capital to deploy its first commercial system and prove the model. He added that it will help build supply chains sought by hard-to-abate industries.
Eric Bensaude is expected to join the board after an investment. He is managing director of LNG commercial operations at Cheniere Energy. The company cites his experience in liquid commodity markets and international distribution.
