Exploring synthetic methane for a greener Japan

Leading a feasibility study into large scale synthetic methane production required us to pull together a huge array of knowledge from our experts around the globe. The result was a first-of-its-kind levelised cost model that could support any country’s progress towards zero carbon

Project

Middle East synthetic methane study

Clients

Japanese consortium

Location

Several countries in the Middle East

Expertise

Green hydrogen, methanation, solar, wind, gas, water transmission, power transmission, energy policy and regulation, economic modelling

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One of those shorter-term goals is reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 46% by 2030 (compared with 2013 levels). This means introducing radical new ideas across many of the country’s core sectors, including energy.

Today, natural gas is widely used in Japanese cities for heating and cooking. Of course, when natural gas is burned, it produces carbon dioxide, which is far from desirable under the country’s climate change policies.

A consortium of three major Japanese energy and trading companies wanted to explore an emerging technology that could help move towards decarbonising the gas network: methanation. To properly assess the feasibility of the project, the consortium engaged Mott MacDonald to undertake a four month, fast-track study, looking at three possible production countries in the Middle East. As lead advisor, we drew together a multidisciplinary team spread across four time zones and five countries: Japan, the UK, Thailand, Australia and the UAE.

46%

Japan’s targeted reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030

As an island nation that is home to 125M people and one of the most advanced economies in the world, Japan is keenly aware of the dangers posed by climate change. In response, the country’s government is forging ahead with an ambitious strategy to make Japan carbon neutral by 2050. To ensure it reaches those objectives, the country has also drawn up a series of interim targets.

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A stepping-stone towards decarbonisation

Methanation is the process of creating synthetic methane by combining carbon dioxide and hydrogen. Synthetic methane is very similar to the main ingredient in natural gas. It can be liquefied and transported just like LNG (liquefied natural gas) and injected into existing gas networks without requiring major structural upgrades to the existing gas distribution networks, unlike other decarbonisation solutions such as injecting a hydrogen blend.

Japan has no significant natural gas resources of its own, so it imports its LNG. Importing and using synthetic methane, which behaves in much the same way, would therefore be fairly straightforward.”

Michael Koerber, principal technical advisor, Mott MacDonald

“Japan has no significant natural gas resources of its own, so it imports its LNG,” explains Michael Koerber, principal technical advisor at Mott MacDonald and project manager for this study. “Importing and using synthetic methane, which behaves in much the same way, would therefore be fairly straightforward.”

This study examined synthetic methane production through sourcing CO2 from existing emitters, meaning its role in decarbonisation is likely to be a bridging solution, while other lower-carbon technologies are developed and brought on-stream.

Net zero carbon synthetic methane is created by bonding green hydrogen with carbon dioxide captured from industry.

25Mt

synthetic methane production goal by 2050