Japanese gas firms join Masdar and Inpex for e-methane production study

Japan’s Tokyo Gas and Osaka Gas have signed a collaboration agreement with Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company – Masdar and Japan’s Inpex Corporation to conduct a joint feasibility study on e-methane production in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

According to Inpex, through the initiative, Tokyo Gas and Osaka Gas aim 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.

To remind, Masdar and Inpex have been conducting a study to produce e-methane utilizing low-cost renewable energy in Abu Dhabi based on an agreement signed on July 17, 2023.

Joined by Tokyo Gas and Osaka Gas, the partners will evaluate the economics of producing and procuring feedstocks 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.

The four players 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, Inpex said.

To note, e-methane is said to be 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.

Therefore, according to Inpex, it is considered a pragmatic carbon-neutral or lower-carbon solution for thermal sectors where electrification is a challenge. Moreover, applications are expected in the power generation and transportation sectors.