Green Hydrogen Production Using Synthetic Methane: Tokyo Gas Trials

Green Hydrogen Production Using Synthetic Methane: Tokyo Gas Trials

Here’s an article posted in Asia Financial.

According to the article,

• Tokyo Gas is conducting trials on synthetic methane using green hydrogen.
• The company aims to achieve cost reduction through various measures.
• Tokyo Gas is working on building global supply chains for synthetic methane.
• Feasibility studies are being conducted in Malaysia, North America, and Australia with various partners such as Sumitomo Corp, Petronas, and Mitsubishi Corp

Additional details about the process involved:

Methanation is a process that involves the conversion of hydrogen (H2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) into synthetic methane (CH4). This technology offers a promising pathway towards reducing carbon emissions by utilizing renewable energy sources and capturing CO2 emissions.

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Here’s a detailed breakdown of the process:

1. Source of Hydrogen: Tokyo Gas plans to utilize green hydrogen sourced from renewable energy for the methanation process. Green hydrogen is produced through the electrolysis of water using renewable energy sources like solar or wind power. This ensures that the hydrogen used in the process is environmentally friendly and sustainable.
2. Carbon Dioxide Capture: CO2 emissions are captured from nearby factories or directly from Tokyo Gas’s customers. This captured CO2 is then used as a feedstock for the methanation process, effectively recycling carbon emissions.
3. Methanation Reaction: The methanation reaction combines hydrogen and carbon dioxide in the presence of a catalyst to produce synthetic methane. The general chemical equation for this reaction is:CO2 + 4H2 → CH4 + 2H2OThis reaction results in the formation of methane (CH4) and water (H2O). The synthetic methane produced through this process serves as an alternative to natural gas, with the added benefit of reducing carbon emissions.
4. Methanation Device: Tokyo Gas is using a methanation device developed by Hitachi Zosen for the trial phase. This device facilitates the methanation reaction and controls the process parameters to optimize methane production.
5. Electrolysis for Hydrogen Production: In addition to using green hydrogen, Tokyo Gas plans to install a water electrolysis device from ITM Power. This device will electrolyze water to produce hydrogen, further enhancing the sustainability of the methanation process.
6. Scaling Up Production: The trial phase aims to produce 12.5 normal cubic meters per hour (Nm3/h) of synthetic methane. Tokyo Gas plans to scale up production in the late 2020s, targeting 400 Nm3/h, followed by an overseas demonstration in 2030 to produce 20,000 Nm3/h.
7. Challenges and Cost Reduction: Despite the environmental benefits, one of the main challenges of methanation is reducing costs. Tokyo Gas acknowledges that methanation costs are currently higher than liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices. However, the company is committed to exploring multiple measures to achieve cost reduction, including leveraging inexpensive overseas renewable energy and optimizing hydrogen production costs.
8. Global Supply Chains: Tokyo Gas is also working on building global supply chains for synthetic methane. Feasibility studies are being conducted in collaboration with partners such as Sumitomo Corp, Petronas, and Mitsubishi Corp in regions like Malaysia, North America, and Australia. This underscores the company’s efforts to expand the adoption of synthetic methane on a global scale.

Interestingly, we have some other posts related to this content:

Efficient Green Hydrogen Production with New Material by Twente University: Twente University researchers developed a composite material for green hydrogen production, outperforming individual compounds by up to 680 times without relying on expensive metals. Green Hydrogen Production: Soundwave Method of RMIT University: Engineers at RMIT University have enhanced green hydrogen production by 14 times using sound waves to split water through electrolysis, promising cheap hydrogen fuel access. Hydrogen Production from Biomass-IISc’s Technology: IISc introduces groundbreaking technology for extracting hydrogen from biomass, offering a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative for cleaner energy sources.