[Japan] JERA announces carbon-free synthetic methane use study in the U.S.

On June 16, 2021, JERA, a joint venture between TEPCO Fuel and Power and Chubu Electric Power, announced that it had secured a grant from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), state-controlled research and development institute, to conduct a feasibility study on CO2 capture and methanation in the U.S.[1] The purpose of the study is to investigate the potential business case of producing carbon-free methane gas from hydrogen. The hydrogen would be generated from renewable energy and carbon captured from existing thermal sources in the U.S. Methanation enables the production of carbon-free LNG from carbon-free methane gas, allowing countries to utilize existing infrastructure to achieve low-cost decarbonization. The company’s subsidiary, JERA Americas, will conduct the feasibility study from June 2021 to February 2022. Under its “JERA Zero CO2 Emissions 2050” objective, the company is committed to cutting carbon emissions from its domestic and overseas businesses by 2050, promoting the adoption of greener fuels, and pursuing non-emitting thermal power.

[1] https://www.jera.co.jp/english/information/20210616_697