Masdar is working with three major Japanese gas providers on a study to the produc e-methane. The synthetic gas is made from hydrogen that’s produced from water via electrolysis and CO2
The Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar (Masdar) – as signed a joint agreement with Japan’s INPEX Corporation, Tokyo Gas Co and the Osaka Gas Co to conduct a joint feasibility study on e-methane production.
Methane, the major component of natural gas is a major contributor to global warming. But e-methane could become a much cleaner fuel say supporters, including physical chemist, Hisataka Yakabe, who is already spearheading research at Tokyo Gas. The reduction in emissions comes from complicated chemistry but involves electricity, heat and reusing the exhaust gases to produce more fuel. e-fuels’ are made from two raw materials: hydrogen that’s produced from water via electrolysis (preferably using renewable energy), and CO2 captured from the air around us.
Tokyo Gas imports almost 13 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas a year to Japan supplying 8.6 million retail and wholesale customers, and for power generation. It is the largest natural gas utility in Japan tracing its history back more than 130 years.
Masdar and INPEX have been conducting a joint study to produce e-methane utilising low-cost renewable energy in Abu Dhabi based on an agreement signed in July 2023. This is not INPEX’s sole decarbonisation co-operation in the UAE capital: it has already committed to clean ammonia production in Abu Dhabi, jointly conducted with ADNOC, JERA, and JOGMEC, “we aim to construct a clean ammonia production plant in Abu Dhabi and supply clean ammonia from the late 2020s”.
The news today is that Tokyo Gas and Osaka Gas have joined this initiative and through it plan to off-take e-methane in volumes equivalent to 1% of each company’s annual city gas demand. Tokyo Gas and Osaka Gas are aiming to introduce e-methane to cover 1% of their respective annual city gas demand by 2030 and further increase the introduction volume from the total of their worldwide projects toward 2050.
The four partners will evaluate the economics of producing and procuring raw materials, such as green hydrogen and CO2, as well as the production and transportation of e-methane. The overall reductions in CO2 emissions will also be evaluated.
Synthetic “e-methane” is compatible with existing LNG infrastructure such as LNG tankers and terminals as well as city gas infrastructure including pipelines and consumer gas equipment, limiting social costs associated with its introduction. “e-methane” is therefore considered a pragmatic carbon-neutral or lower-carbon solution for thermal sectors where electrification is a challenge. Applications are also expected in the power generation and transportation sectors.
Masdar, INPEX, Tokyo Gas and Osaka Gas aim for the early establishment of an e-methane supply chain from the UAE to Japan to contribute to the UAE and Japanese governments’ shared goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
About Masdar
Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) is the UAE’s clean energy champion and one of the largest companies of its kind in the world, advancing the development and deployment of renewable energy and green hydrogen technologies to address global sustainability challenges. Established in 2006, Masdar is today active in over 40 countries, helping them to achieve their clean energy objectives and advance sustainable development. Masdar is jointly owned by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala), and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), and under this ownership the company is targeting a renewable energy portfolio capacity of at least 100 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 and an annual green hydrogen production capacity of up to 1 million tonnes by the same year. For more information please visit: http://www.masdar.ae and connect: facebook.com/masdar.ae and twitter.com/masdar
About INPEX
INPEX Corporation is a Japanese oil company established in February 1966 as North Sumatra Offshore Petroleum Exploration Co. Ltd. It is the largest oil and gas exploration and production company in Japan, with global exploration, development and production projects in 20 countries. It is Japan’s largest exploration and production (E&P) company and is currently involved in projects across multiple continents, including the Ichthys LNG Project in Australia as Operator. By thoroughly making its oil and gas business cleaner while expanding its 5 net zero business areas, INPEX aims to provide a stable supply of diverse and clean energy sources including oil, natural gas, hydrogen, and renewables as a pioneer in energy transformation.
About Tokyo Gas
Tokyo Gas Co. Ltd. is the largest city gas supplier in Japan and a Japanese integrated energy company with diverse businesses spanning electricity generation, energy retailing, engineering solutions, upstream LNG, and real estate development. As part of our group’s management vision “Compass 2030,” we have been taking action to realize a decarbonized society by tackling the challenge of achieving “Net-Zero CO2.”
“As an infrastructure provider for the Tokyo metropolitan area, we support our customers’ decarbonisation efforts by promoting the sophisticated use of LNG. At the same time, we focus on renewable energy power plant development, CCUS utilisation, hydrogen production technology development, and commercialization of e-methane and other hydrogen carriers. In order to establish supply chains for e-methane, we are currently carrying out feasibility studies in North America, Malaysia, Australia, and other regions with trading companies and global energy companies. Tokyo Gas will lead the transition to a decarbonized society by achieving both stable energy supply and decarbonisation.”
About Osaka Gas
Osaka Gas aims to achieve carbon neutrality across its corporate group (Daigas Group) by 2050 as a goal set in the Carbon Neutral Vision released in January 2021 and Energy Transition 2030 released in March 2023. To realise this ambition, the company pursues net zero solutions, including e-methane, synthetic methane suitable for seamless and low-cost transition due to its compatibility with the existing gas infrastructure and equipment. While proceeding with R&D on e-methane technologies, Osaka Gas drives several e-methane projects, conducting feasibility studies to produce e-methane in strategic locations, such as North America, South America, Australia, the Middle East, the Southeast Asia, and Japan.
