Tokyo Gas begins synthetic methane trial using green hydrogen

Tokyo Gas is also trying to build global supply chains of synthetic methane, conducting feasibility studies in Malaysia with Sumitomo Corp and Petronas and in North America and Australia with Mitsubishi Corp

YOKOHAMA, Japan: Tokyo Gas Co Ltd Japan's top city gas supplier, said on Friday it has begun a pilot programme of methanation, a technology to help decarbonise city gas, and plans to use green hydrogen sourced from renewable energy for the trial by next March.

Methanation converts hydrogen and carbon dioxide (CO2) into synthetic methane, an alternative for the main component in natural gas. It is considered a way of using CO2 as a raw material that could help the company achieve carbon neutrality in 2050.