First Methanation Demonstration Test in the Domestic Food Business
Methanation facility introduced at Asahi Group Research and Development Center
Produces synthetic methane from recovered CO2 to realize carbon recycling inside plants
Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd.
(Tokyo, Japan - August 31, 2021) - Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd. announces that its independent research company Asahi Quality & Innovations, Ltd. has introduced a methanation facility (an IHI Corporation product) at the Asahi Group Research and Development Center (Moriya City, Ibaraki Prefecture) and will start the first methanation demonstration test in the domestic food business from September 2021.
Methanation is a technology to synthesize methane, which is the primary component of natural gas, from hydrogen and CO2. Because CO2 is used as a raw material when synthesizing methane, methanation is positioned as one promising carbon recycling (CO2 reuse) technology, and it has been attracting growing attention in recent years in efforts toward realizing a decarbonized society.
Regarding the synthetic methane produced by methanation, Asahi Quality & Innovations, Ltd. will examine the potential for future deployment to carbon recycling inside plants such as use as fuel for boilers, fuel cells, etc.
The Asahi Group is pursuing diverse technological innovations to decrease the quantity of CO2 emissions. The CO2 separation and recovery testing equipment introduced in January 2020 is being used in a demonstration test of the separation of CO2 from boiler exhaust gas and its high-efficiency recovery. The hours of continuous operation surpassed 9,000 hours as of the end of August, and the performance is being confirmed aiming at 10,000 hours of continuous operation.
The methanation demonstration test this time is being implemented to develop effective applications of the CO2 recovered from the CO2 separation and recovery testing equipment. The demonstration test will examine reacting the recovered CO2 with hydrogen generated inside the methanation facility, producing synthetic methane, and using it as a fuel. A long-term test for 10,000 hours of continuous operation will start from September to confirm the linked operation with the CO2 separation and recovery testing equipment, the system performance, the quality of the synthetic methane, and the cost profitability, and to evaluate the potential for deployment to plants.
The Asahi Group sets forth “Contribute to a sustainable society through our business” as one of the principles of the Asahi Group Philosophy. Moreover, Asahi Group Environmental Vision 2050 sets the middle- to long-term CO2 emissions reduction target “Asahi Carbon Zero” as a response to climate change, and aims at zero CO2 emissions by the year 2050.
Toward achieving Asahi Carbon Zero, the entire Group is working to actively utilize renewable energy at domestic and overseas production bases, revise manufacturing processes, and promote energy conservation by improving distribution efficiencies, etc. The Group is also working to develop a power-generation system with fuel cells using biomethane gas derived from wastewater, and positively advancing research and development.
As a company which conducts business while utilizing the “blessings of nature,” the Asahi Group aims at handing down the “blessings of nature” to the next generation by actively promoting efforts to address various environmental issues.