Ceramics specialist NGK Insulators Ltd (NGK) has announced it is to introduce carbon-neutral city gas supplied by TOHO GAS Co. Ltd.
The NGK Group says it will start using the gas at four major production bases in Aichi Prefecture (Japan) later this month.
The transition to carbon-neutral city gas will help reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by approximately 30,000 tons annually.
Verification authorities certify the CO2 reduction effects of environmental conservation projects around the world as CO2 credits.
Carbon-neutral city gas uses carbon-neutral liquified natural gas, which offsets the CO2 generated in the process from excavation of natural gas to combustion with CO2 credit.
The move marks TOHO GAS’s first supply and NGK’s initial introduction of carbon-neutral city gas.
Starting in August 2021, carbon-neutral city gas will replace all city gas used at the factories and office buildings of four NGK bases: Nagoya Site (Nagoya), Chita Site (Handa, Aichi), Komaki Site (Komaki, Aichi) and the NGK headquarters (Komaki, Aichi).
The fuel in the gas kiln used in the firing of products will also be replaced with carbon-neutral city gas, thereby achieving a significant reduction in CO2 emissions.
A total reduction of approximately 105,000 tons are projected over a contract period of approximately three years.
Net-zero push
In the NGK Group Environmental Vision formulated in April 2021, the NGK Group set a goal to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050.
In addition to this carbon-neutral city gas procurement initiative, NGK has also begun development of technology that will use clean energy that does not emit CO2, such as hydrogen and ammonia, to manufacture ceramics.
By adopting clean energy, NGK says it is reducing CO2 emissions and helping to realise a carbon-neutral society.
NGK is a ceramics specialist active in more than 20 countries worldwide, with business foci including mobility, energy, IT and industry.
Image: NGK Insulators headquarters
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