Daiwa House to test Japan’s first food waste-to-biomethanol power system

Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd. has announced it will begin demonstration experiments for a power generation system using biomethanol derived from food waste, starting in March 2027. This process, which involves synthesizing biomethanol from biogas produced from food waste, marks a first in Japan.

The project will utilize food waste from the company’s Tochigi Ninomiya Plant to generate biogas. Using a unique photo-oxidation reaction technology developed in collaboration with Professor Takashi Okubo of Osaka University, the biogas will be converted into biomethanol. This fuel will then be used to generate electricity for the ‘Daiwa House Group Endless Heart Park’ pavilion at the GREEN×EXPO 2027 in Yokohama.

The experiment aims to verify the stability and operational challenges of the entire system, including synthesis, transport, and power generation. By combining locally produced biomethanol with products from Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc., the company plans to power the pavilion’s cooling equipment, potentially reducing CO2 emissions by approximately 2.7 tons compared to fossil fuel-based electricity. Following the trials, Daiwa House intends to consider implementing this technology at other company facilities.