NGK Introduces Carbon-Neutral City Gas to Reduce CO2 Emissions – All City Gas at Major Aichi Production Bases to be Replaced

NGK INSULATORS, LTD. (“NGK”) has decided to introduce carbon-neutral city gas supplied by TOHO GAS Co., Ltd. The NGK Group will start using it at four major production bases in Aichi Prefecture in August 2021. This transition to carbon-neutral city gas will help reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions by approximately 30,000 tons annually.

Carbon-neutral city gas uses carbon-neutral liquified natural gas (LNG), which offsets (through carbon offset) the CO₂ generated in the process from excavation of natural gas to combustion with CO₂ credit (*). This will mark TOHO GAS’s first supply and our 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 headquarters of Group company NGK CERAMIC DEVICE CO., LTD. (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 3 years.

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 will strive to reduce CO₂ emissions and contribute to realizing a carbon-neutral society.

* Highly credible verification authorities certify the CO₂ reduction effects of environmental conservation projects around the world as CO₂ credits.