Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) and Kyoto University are set to open the MHI Innovative Combustion Dynamics Laboratory on April 1, aiming to develop gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) power plants with over 70% efficiency and carbon-neutral combustion technology. This collaboration seeks to address the growing global demand for electricity, driven by the expansion of data centers and the rise of generative AI, while balancing decarbonization efforts.
The laboratory will focus on the development of combustion technology that combines high efficiency with ultra-low emissions, a field where Japanese manufacturers have competitive strengths. This initiative is expected to enhance Japan's energy industry competitiveness and foster the next generation of deep-tech talent. MHI will equip the laboratory with combustion test rigs to study engine combustion mechanisms and employ advanced measurement technology and numerical simulations to innovate GTCC technology.
Research will extend beyond GTCC to include rocket engine combustion, supersonic combustion, and reciprocating engine combustion, with an emphasis on social implementation. These efforts aim to create social value and contribute to the development of deep-tech talent. The laboratory will operate from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2031, under the full-time leadership of Naoto Horibe, a Program-Specific Professor at Kyoto University's Graduate School of Engineering, with part-time contributions from Professors Ryoichi Kurose and Jun Hayashi.
This collaboration aligns with MHI's goals of producing world-leading products and achieving Innovative Total Optimization (ITO) to expand its domain and optimize operations. Through these efforts, MHI aims to support the transition to a carbon-neutral society by advancing clean, zero-carbon fuel technologies compatible with gas turbines.
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