Methanol is a clean-burning fuel for thermal applications, including industrial boilers, kilns, heating furnaces, and cooking stoves. China has primarily driven growing demand for methanol as an industrial boiler and kiln fuel. Industrial boilers are used extensively to generate heat and steam for various industrial applications, and kilns are used to produce ceramics, dry tobacco, and different food items. Industrial boilers have traditionally been coal-fueled in China. Current environmental regulations in China accelerate their transition to cleaner-burning fuels (including methanol) that can reduce impacts on local air quality and related human health.

Methanol is a cost-effective, clean-burning fuel for industrial boilers. Methanol offers a competitive fuel cost, and as a liquid fuel, requires only a moderate infrastructure investment. Soaring demand for methanol as an industrial boiler fuel has grown over the past decades. An increasing number of technology providers are supplying methanol-fueled burners for boilers, and relevant standards have been established in China to support the safe, sustainable growth of the sector.