In this pilot project ABC will digest organic matter at its palm oil factory in Thailand to generate biogas, which will be subsequently refined by Osaka Gas into methane.
ABC will use the refined methane gas as fuel in its own natural gas powered vehicles. The pilot project is scheduled to run for approximately one year, during which time Osaka Gas will test operate a 250 Nm3/h biogas refining facility that assumes commercial deployment.
The project will seek to verify stability of the operation in the long term as well as methods to minimize the cost of producing methane gas. Based on the outcome of pilot testing, ABC will actively continue developing initiatives to effectively utilize the biogas generated at the factory as a fuel for natural gas-powered vehicles.
There is an abundance of biomass resources in Thailand including palm residue, the remnants of sugarcane crushed to extract juice, and food factory wastewater. Natural gas vehicles are also becoming increasingly prevalent in the country. Osaka Gas decided to carry out this pilot project in Thailand based on its confidence in the potential towards the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by using its unique hybrid biogas refining system to effectively utilize these biomass resources.
Osaka Gas is hoping to aid in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by implementing this pilot project, expanding energy initiatives around Southeast Asia, and making effective use of biomass resources in 2018.
