×

Special Feature 2: Contributing to the Development of Methanation Technologies for Low-Carbonization and Decarbonization of City Gas Materials

Special Feature 2: Contributing to the Development of Methanation Technologies for Low-Carbonization and Decarbonization of City Gas Materials
  • Special Feature 1: Starting a Verification Project to Establish a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Using a Residential Fuel Cell, “ENE-FARM”
  • Special Feature 2: Contributing to the Development of Methanation Technologies for Low-Carbonization and Decarbonization of City Gas Materials
  • Special Feature 3: Developing Radiative Cooling Materials that Enable Zero-Energy Cooling During the Day
Targets to which the Daigas Group can contribute 13.CLIMATE ACTION 9.INDUSTRY,INOVATION AND INFRASTRUCUTURE 12.RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION

Technology that Contributes to the SDGs

In the city gas industry, we are focusing on technical innovation related to methanation, as part of our endeavors targeting the low-carbonization and decarbonization of city gas materials.

Methanation technology is a carbon recycling technology that uses hydrogen and CO2 as the raw materials to generate methane, a primary component of city gas. By using the methane generated with this technology as a primary component of city gas, we can utilize the existing city gas infrastructure and equipment on the consumer side, enabling us to decarbonize city gas itself while reducing the social cost. Therefore, this technology is expected to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Innovation by the Daigas Group

Osaka Gas will work with the Japan Gas Association to contribute to the development of methanation. As one aspect of these efforts, the “SOEC co-electrolysis and methanation reaction technology” was selected as a project for “pioneering research into technologies for the effective utilization of CO2 (direct resolution of CO2)” by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), a national research and development agency (FY2020-2021). Thus, we are engaging in basic research together with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, a national research and development agency.

Here, we are using a technology called SOEC*1 to generate hydrogen and CO through electrolysis (co-electrolysis*2) of CO2 and steam with power from renewable energy, etc. We then synthesize methane with a methanation reaction.*3 This technology is characterized by its extremely high energy conversion efficiency because the power required for the co-electrolysis is reduced by effectively utilizing the heat, etc. generated from the methanation reaction.

At present, we are still at the basic research stage, but we are continuing our efforts in this area with the aim of decarbonizing city gas materials in the future, utilizing the core technical expertise developed by the Company in relation to fuel cells and catalysts.

Innovation by the Daigas Group
  • *1 Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell: A device with the opposite function to an SOFC (Solid Oxide Fuel Cell).
  • *2 Co-electrolysis reaction formula: CO2 + 3H2O (+ electric power) → CO + 3H2 (+ 2O2) (endothermic reaction)
  • *3 Methanation reaction formula: CO + 3H2 → CH4 + H2O (exothermic reaction)

President's Commitment Carbon Neutral Vision／
Energy Transition 2030 Sustainability Report（9.5MB） Integrated Report（12.5MB）
Management Plan
Management Plan Documents Long-Term Management Vision 2030 Medium-Term Management Plan 2023
Daigas Group's Values
Daigas Group's Values Daigas Group Corporate Principles Daigas Group Charter of Business Conduct Daigas Group Code of Business Conduct Our Declaration Daigas Group Policies
Sustainability Management
Promotion System Materiality Stakeholder Engagement History of Co-creation of Value Value Creation Process
Environment
Environment Environmental Management Daigas Group Environmental Policy Estimation Method of Environmental Accounting Environmental Management Efficiency Environmental Impact throughout the Daigas Group Value Chain Environmental Targets Actions for Climate Change Assessment of CO₂ Emissions Reduction Effects Disclosure based on the TCFD Recommendations, Recognition of and Actions on Risks and Opportunities Contributing to the Resource-Recycling Society Data Trends Regarding Resource Recycling Information Disclosure on the Research Results of Soil and Groundwater Conservation Biodiversity Daigas Group Biodiversity Policy Development of Environmental Technology
Social
Social Innovation Management Human Resources Management Human Resources Development Diversity and Inclusion Daigas Group Diversity Promotion Policy Work-life Balance Occupational Health and Safety Health and Safety Action Plan Communication Between Employees and Company Human Rights Daigas Group Human Rights Policy Supply Chain Management Daigas Group Procurement Policy Social Impact of Business Activities in Our Energy Value Chain Customer Health and Safety Improvement of Customer Satisfaction Community
Governance
Governance Corporate Governance Message from the Outside Directors Compliance Consultations and Reports from Partner Companies Information Security Protect Personal Information
Initiatives for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Commendation from the Outside Initiatives the Daigas Group Participates In
ESG Data
Third-Party Verification Environmental Performance Data Social Data Governance Data
Reporting Guidelines
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Index SASB Table Reference for the Environmental Reporting Guidelines of the Ministry of the Environment TCFD Recommendations Table
Transition Finance Policy on Reporting Sustainability Activities Download We Value Your Feedback Topics Back Number Sustainability Site Map