Hitachi and Tokyo Gas launch digital certification for biomethane

Hitachi, Ltd. and Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. have launched a demonstration of a new digital solution, ‘Powered by Carbon Neutral Gas’, to certify the use of imported biomethane. This initiative marks the first time in Japan that the consumption of city gas derived from overseas biomethane can be digitally verified at the level of specific equipment.

The solution utilizes Hitachi’s demand-tracking technology, originally developed for renewable electricity, to track gas usage. By integrating data from the final supply point and equipment meters, the system can identify who used how much gas and where. This provides customers with verifiable evidence of their decarbonization efforts by proving that CO2 emissions from specific gas-powered heating or cooling equipment are effectively zero.

The current demonstration is being conducted at Hitachi Origin Park in Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture, where the technology is applied to the facility’s gas air conditioning systems. Looking ahead, the companies aim to expand this digital platform to include e-methane, hydrogen, and ammonia to support the broader transition to carbon-neutral gases.