Since 2022, JCCL Inc. (Head Office: Nishi-ku, Fukuoka City; CEO: Toshiyuki Umehara; hereinafter “JCCL”) has been engaged in a collaborative research initiative with Kyushu University (Location: Nishi-ku, Fukuoka City; President: Tatsuro Ishibashi; hereinafter “Kyushu University”) and Saibu Gas Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City; CEO: Takuji Kato; hereinafter “Saibu Gas”) to explore the utilization of CO₂ from city gas combustion exhaust through an organizational partnership framework⁽¹⁾. Since November 2023, JCCL has also participated in the Ministry of the Environment’s demonstration project titled “Local Production and Consumption Model for Methanation⁽²⁾ Aimed at Cost Reduction through Regional Feedstock Utilization” (hereinafter “the Demonstration Project”)⁽³⁾

JCCL, in collaboration with Kyushu University, has successfully completed a demonstration using its jointly developed CO₂ recovery unit (VPSA2)⁽⁴⁾ to capture CO₂ from the city gas boiler exhaust at Saibu Gas’s production facility. The recovered CO₂ was concentrated to 99% and stably supplied to Saibu Gas’s methanation system (hereinafter “the System”). Using this CO₂ as a feedstock, methane gas—the primary component of city gas—was synthesized within the System and certified as carbon-neutral city gas “e-methane”⁽⁵⁾ through the issuance of a Clean Gas Certificate. The issuance of this certificate signifies that the e-methane produced using CO₂ recovered from combustion exhaust by JCCL’s VPSA2 unit has been officially recognized as “clean city gas” with environmental value.

CO₂ recovery technology is expected to serve as a foundation for future expansion of carbon recycling technologies such as methanation. JCCL will continue working with Kyushu University to advance CO₂ separation and recovery technologies, scale up their applications, and promote social implementation. Together with Saibu Gas, the three parties remain committed to contributing to the realization of a decarbonized society and the development of a regionally integrated energy system.⁽¹⁾ Press Release from April 7, 2022 (JP):
– Saibu Gas: https://hd.saibugas.co.jp/news_release/detail/2022/nr004.html
– JCCL: https://jccl.jp/archives/209
– Kyushu University: https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/f/47516/22_04_07_02.pdf
⁽²⁾ A technology that synthesizes methane (CH₄), the main component of city gas, from hydrogen (H₂) and carbon dioxide (CO₂).
⁽³⁾Press Release dated December 4, 2023 (JP):
– Saibu Gas: https://hd.saibugas.co.jp/news_release/detail/2023/nr040.html
– JCCL: https://jccl.jp/archives/652
– Kyushu University: https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/ja/notices/view/2578/
⁽⁴⁾A device that supplies humidified CO₂-containing gas to a solid absorbent to capture CO₂ and uses pressure-controlled steam with regulated relative humidity to recover and concentrate approximately 30 kg of CO₂ per day at a purity of over 97%.
⁽⁵⁾ A term used for synthetic methane produced from non-fossil energy sources such as green hydrogen. Although e-methane emits CO₂ when combusted, it uses CO₂ recovered from sources such as exhaust gas as a feedstock, resulting in no net increase in atmospheric CO₂.

【Press Release by Saibu Gas (JP)】
– June 12, 2025 Press Release
Regarding Certification of the Hibiki Methanation Demonstration Facility as a “Clean Gas Production Facility”
https://hd.saibugas.co.jp/news_release/detail/2025/nr013.html
– October 3, 2025 Press Release
Issuance of a Clean Gas Certificate under the Clean Gas Certification System
https://hd.saibugas.co.jp/news_release/detail/2025/pdf/nr038.pdf

【Clean Gas Certification System Website (JP)】
https://www.clean-gas-certificate.com/

【For Inquiries】
JCCL Inc.
Business Development Department
Email：inquiry(a)jccl.co.jp

Kyushu University, Faculty of Engineering
Dr. Yu Hoshino
Email：hoshino.yu.673(a)m.kyushu-u.ac.jp
※Please replace the (at) with @