On May 10, Air Water started the business to supply biomethane derived from livestock manure to fuel boilers in place of LNG. Liquefied biomethane of 5 t/m will be supplied to Yotsuba Milk Products’ Tokachi Main Plant (located at Otofuke-cho) by tank truck.

Air Water has developed a biomethane supply chain as a verification project of the Ministry of Environment ever since three years ago. After the end of verification period until last year a new phase of commercializing stage has started from this year. Yotsuba Milk Products Tokachi main plant, which has an experience of using biomethane for the period of the previous verification, will utilize biomethane by mixed combustion with the existing LNG.

The amount of use of ５ tons per month account for just 　
1% of the LNG consumption of the plant, but biomethane can decrease the whole CO2 emission of supply chain comparing with LNG.

Although biomethane costs higher than the existing LNG, Air Water has decided this time to adopt biomethane because of some elements like its environmental value to reduce CO2 discharge and the expected mitigation of the burden which the local dairy farmers would bear.

Air Water collects biogases in the local area of Tokachi, Hokkaido and then purifies and liquefies them in the biomethane liquefaction plant located in Obihiro City. The output capacity will be 30 t/m.

In future Air Water plans to supply biomethane in gaseous form as well as in liquid, and also to expand the procurement sources of biogases