Tokyo Gas Co. said Monday it will conduct a cogeneration project with fast-food operator Yoshinoya D&C Co. at an outlet in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo.
In the yearlong project, to start Wednesday, the restaurant will use a utility gas-powered engine to generate 6 kw of electricity and obtain hot water from byproduct heat from the generator, the company said. It is hoped the power produced will account for about 40 percent of the restaurant's needs.
Yoshinoya outlets serve bowls of rice topped with seasoned beef, known as "gyudon."
Currently, the Setagaya outlet spends around 3 million yen a year on gas and electricity. The new program will allow it to save around 700,000 yen a year, the company said.