e-Methane (Researched in February 2026)
Coverage: (Product/service)
Carbon-Neutral Energy Industry
Research Target:
e-Methane Technologies and Industry
Research Content:
This report was compiled based on articles published in the March 2026 issue of our periodical, “Yano E plus”.
TOC:
Gaining Attention as a Practical Solution for Decarbonization by Utilizing Existing City Gas Infrastructure Through Synthetic Methane Produced from Renewable Hydrogen and Captured CO2
1. What Is e-Methane? — Definition and Drivers Behind Growing Interest
2. Technical Characteristics of e-Methane and Challenges in Production and Transportation
2-1. Technical Characteristics
(1) High Compatibility with Existing City Gas and LNG Infrastructure
(2) Function as a Hydrogen Carrier
2-2. Technical Challenges
(1) Low Energy Efficiency
(2) CO2 Procurement and Cost Structure
(3) Establishment of a Large-Scale Supply System
3. Initiatives by the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy and Directions for Policy Support
3-1. Support for Demonstration Projects and Promotion of Technology Development
3-2. Development of Regulatory Frameworks and Promotion of Gas Certification and Labeling
3-3. International Collaboration and Contributions to Energy Security
4. Initiatives of Major Japanese Gas Utilities
4-1. Tokyo Gas: Parallel Advancement of Overseas Procurement and Domestic Demonstration Projects
4-2. Osaka Gas: Technology Development and Value Chain Construction
4-3. Saibu Gas: Community-Based Distributed Model
4-4. Toho Gas: Utilization in Collaboration with Industrial Clusters
4-5. Challenges and Outlook for the Gas Utility Industry as a Whole
5. Overseas Trends and Potential for International Cooperation
5-1. European Union (EU): A Leading Region in Institutional Support and Network Development
5-2. United States: Expansion of Investment Driven by the Inflation Reduction Act
5-3. Asia-Pacific Region: Emerging Market Formation and Cooperation with Japan
5-4. International Certification Schemes and Opportunities for Collaboration
6. Policy Design and Market Development for Wider Adoption
6-1. Establishing a Clear Definition of Carbon-Neutral Gas and Certification Systems
6-2. Early-Stage Price Incentives and Financial Support
6-3. Information Provision to Support Demand-Side Choice and Market Development
6-4. Optimization of Policy Design and International Harmonization
7. e-Methane Market Size Forecast
8. Activities of Companies and Research Institutions Related to e-Methane
8-1. Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
(1) Daigas Group's Roadmap for Low-Carbon and Decarbonized Energy
(2) Development of Methanation Technologies for the Realization of e-Methane Adoption
8-2. Kyoto University
(1) Methane Fermentation and Biogas Upgrading
(2) Power-to-Gas and Biomethanation
(3) Biological Biogas Upgrading (BBU)
(4) Results and Challenges of Demonstration Research
(5) Future Outlook
8-3. Chiba University
(1) Contribution to Carbon Neutrality
(2) Oxygen Vacancy Sites as the Key Factor
(3) A Two-Step Mechanism Integrating Light and Heat
(4) Innovations in Experimental Approaches
(5) International Recognition and Academic Impact
(6) Future Outlook
8-4. Toho Gas Co., Ltd.
(1) Demonstration and Evaluation of Methanation Technology
(2) Contribution to the Development of Frameworks Needed for the Widespread Adoption of e-Methane (Revision of the SHK System for the Calculation, Reporting, and Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions)
(3) Technology Assessment and Visualization of Environmental Performance
(4) Response to Environmental Value Schemes (Clean Gas Certificates)
(5) Activities to Promote Adoption and Increase Awareness
(6) Future Outlook: Examination of a CO2 Circular Economy Model
9. Future Vision for e-Methane and the Direction of the Gas Industry
9-1. Structural Transformation of the Gas Industry
9-2. Transition to the Social Implementation Stage
9-3. The Redefinition of the Concept of "Gas"