Hitachi Ltd., Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. (MOL), and Japan Airlines Co. Ltd. (JAL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to initiate Japan's first pilot test of Direct Ocean Capture (DOC) technology on Kume Island, Okinawa Prefecture. The initiative aims to separate and capture CO2 dissolved in seawater, marking a significant step in the country's efforts to address emissions in hard-to-abate sectors.
The pilot test will utilize containerized equipment on Kume Island to process seawater, with the goal of confirming the applicability of DOC technology and gathering foundational data on operational challenges and environmental impacts. This effort aligns with Kume Island's ongoing projects in ocean research, including Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) initiatives.
DOC technology is designed to remove CO2 directly from seawater, leveraging the ocean's natural ability to absorb atmospheric carbon. By extracting CO2, the ocean can absorb more from the atmosphere, potentially lowering atmospheric CO2 concentrations. This method is considered a promising solution for climate change due to its lower costs and energy consumption compared to other technologies.
Hitachi, under its sustainability strategy PLEDGES, will use advanced analytical tools to measure operating status and environmental data, aiming to optimize energy efficiency and contribute to a Measurement/Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) data platform. MOL will leverage its local partnerships in Okinawa to facilitate the pilot environment, while JAL will lead promotional activities and evaluate DOC technology for future procurement of synthetic aviation fuel (E-SAF).
The collaboration is seen as a step toward creating a self-sufficient carbon economy on Kume Island, with potential applications for the captured CO2 in synthetic fuels. The companies have also invested in Captura Corp., a U.S.-based DOC technology developer, to explore further deployment of the technology in Japan.
Comments are closed.