China has rolled out its first national standard for assessing the carbon footprint of green methanol, marking a major step toward regulating and scaling low-carbon fuel alternatives.
Source: China COSCO Shipping News
China has rolled out its first national standard for assessing the carbon footprint of green methanol, marking a major step toward regulating and scaling low-carbon fuel alternatives. The standard, T/CIQA 109-2025: Carbon Footprint Assessment for Green Methanol Products, was issued by the China Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Association and officially came into effect in March 2025.
The standard offers a structured methodology to evaluate greenhouse gas emissions across the full life cycle of green methanol—from feedstock sourcing to final use. Under international guidelines, including those from the International Renewable Energy Agency, methanol qualifies as “green” only when it is produced using sustainable raw materials and meets strict carbon intensity thresholds.
Green methanol has emerged as a key alternative fuel in sectors such as shipping, thanks to its clean-burning properties and renewable origin. Recognizing its potential, COSCO Shipping’s affiliate Zhongli Inspection Co., Ltd. led the drafting of the new standard, working alongside stakeholders from across the methanol value chain—including producers, transporters, fuel suppliers, and traders.
Unlike one-size-fits-all approaches, this standard is tailored to China's domestic context while maintaining compatibility with global frameworks, including those in the EU. It provides a credible, science-based reference for tracking and validating emissions, supporting the sector’s transition to low-carbon energy. The standard has already been recognized for its contribution to technical progress, winning CIQA’s 2024 “Outstanding Group Standard Award.”
Looking ahead, Zhongli Inspection plans to develop a comprehensive database of carbon emission factors for marine fuels such as green methanol, biofuels, bio-LNG, green ammonia, and RFNBOs (renewable fuels of non-biological origin). The company also aims to promote national standardization efforts and enhance international mutual recognition to support the broader decarbonization of global shipping.
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