A group of seven Japanese companies has announced the completion of a successful the trial using liquefied bio-methane (LBM) derived from cattle manure as marine fuel on the domestic LNG-fuelled vessel ‘Ise Mirai’, marking Japan’s first use of carbon-neutral LBM derived from biomass.
Teaming up on the project were Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), Air Water, Techno Chubu, Kyoudou Kaiun, MOL Coastal Shipping, Cenergy and IHI Power Systems. The trial was conducted based on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between MOL and Air Water in February 2023, with the cooperation of other parties involved, as follows:
Shipper: Jera; Carrier: Techno Chubu; Operator/Shipowner: Kyoudou Kaiun (Joint venture between Techno Chubu and MOL Coastal Shipping); Truck transport: Cenergy; Bunkering operator: Cenergy, Kyoudou Kaiun; and Engine manufacturer: IHI Power Systems.
In the trial, Air Water supplied LBM produced from cattle manure in the Tokachi region of Hokkaido as part of a technology development and demonstration project adopted by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment. All parties involved confirmed the following through ocean transport of JERA’s cargo:
- LBM can be transported through the existing domestic LNG supply chain.
- Truck-to-ship bunkering of LBM can be completed using existing LNG tank trucks.
- LBM can be used by existing vessels as marine fuel.
