Japanese trio builds a CO2 emission mapping system for e-methane
Japan’s Osaka Gas, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), and IBM Japan have built a demonstration platform called "CO2NNEX for e-methane" that allows for trackin and trading of e-methane's environmental value.
PHOTO: Illustration of e-methane's environmental value being traded. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Synthetic methane or e-methane is produced by combining hydrogen with carbon dioxide (CO2) from natural gas through a process called methanation.
The “CO2NNEX for e-methane” platform allows the user to trace e-methane's carbon footprint throughout its lifecycle - from production to transport to combustion. I also shows the balance of an individual's e-methane "environmental value" or tradeable credits and allows users to trade this “environmental value.”
According to MHI, the companies “intend to apply the proof of concept (PoC) results to planned methanation demonstrations, aiming to realise the practical application of e-methane and contribute to achieving a carbon-neutral society.”
Shipowners are increasingly paying close attention to the lifecycle assessment of e-methane or biomethane when investing in low-emission fuels, Nicolas Ganas of Dutch LNG bunker supplier Titan told ENGINE recently. Titan is in the process of building what is set to become the world’s biggest biomethane liquefaction plant. It will supply ships handling cargo in the Port of Amsterdam and the wider ARA hub.
“What I think is positive for us as a supplier is that we see more and more of a big push from shipowners for a well-to-wake approach,” Ganas said. “We want that because when you burn that LBM or e-LNG, you need to have a well-to-wake approach to show the benefits. To show that you have 80% reductions in greenhouse gases, or even more than 100%.”
French shipping major CMA CGM currently has a fleet of 20 “biomethane and e-methane ready” vessels in service and expects a total of 44 ships in service by the end of 2024.
By Konica Bhatt
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