Selected by the Ministry of the Environment for "Demonstration of Sustainable CCS Technology Project"
Toshiba Corporation
Mizuho Information & Research Institute, Inc.
TOKYO—Toshiba Corporation (HQ Minato-ku, Tokyo; represented by President & CEO Satoshi Tsunakawa), Mizuho Information & Research Institute, Inc. (MHIR, HQ in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; represented by President & CEO Junichi Nishizawa) and 11 other entities*1 have been selected to carry out a major five-year project to promote clean energy generation, the "Demonstration of Sustainable CCS Technology Project" sponsored by Japan`s Ministry of the Environment (MOE).
The consortium led by the two companies will construct a large-scale carbon capture facility that will capture carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted by a thermal power plant, and evaluate the technology`s performance, cost and environmental impacts. The project will run from 2016 to 2020, and the consortium will use the results to develop policies and measures to facilitate carbon capture and storage (CCS) deployment in Japan.
Toshiba will construct a carbon capture facility designed to capture more than 500 tons of CO2 a day, about 50% of its daily emissions, from the Mikawa Power Plant (capacity: 49,000 kW) operated by Toshiba subsidiary Sigma Power Ariake Co., Ltd., in Omuta, Fukuoka prefecture. Mizuho and the other 11 members will investigate an environmental impact assessment method for CCS, the framework necessary for the smooth introduction of CCS in Japan, and overall CCS system appropriate to Japan. The demonstration project aims to achieve practical applications of this technology by 2020.
The Mikawa Power Plant is now being retrofitted to accommodate both coal- and biomass-fired power generation. When the demonstration facility is completed in 2020, it will become the world’s first power plant*2 equipped with a large-scale carbon capture demonstration facility that is capable of capturing carbon dioxide from a biomass power plant. Commenting on the project, Takao Konishi, Vice President of Toshiba’s Energy Systems & Solutions Company said, “Toshiba is committed to the realization of a low-carbon society. Alongside CO2-free power generation methods, such as nuclear, renewables and hydrogen-based power, Toshiba is working on technologies for reducing CO2 emissions from thermal power plants, including CCS and ultra- supercritical coal-fired thermal power generation. Through this project in Mikawa, we aim to further increase the efficiency and scale of CCS as a step toward global promotion of cleaner energy production.”
Yasushi Kaji, General Manager of MHIR said, "MHIR will work to improve the environment for deploying CCS as a measure against climate change as well as to formulate a national policy based on the findings of this project. MHIR will advance its efforts in the field of environment and energy in order to help realize a sustainable society by assisting with policy planning, corporate management, and R&D promotion."
CCS is a CO2 reduction technology that can be applied to both new and existing thermal power plants. Along with other low-carbon technologies such as renewable energy, it is expected to help combat climate change. Toshiba and MHIR will seek to contribute to the mitigation of climate change through the early deployment of CCS in Japan and overseas.
*1 Chiyoda Corporation, JGC Corporation, Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, Taisei Corporation, Dia Consultants Co., Ltd., QJ Science Ltd., Japan NUS Co., Ltd., National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, The University of Tokyo, Kyushu University (The project leader is Dr. Makoto Akai, Emeritus Researcher at AIST/Board Director of Global CCS Institute.)
*2 As of July, 2016, according to Toshiba survey
Mechanism of CO2 Captur
CO2 Capture Demonstration Plant (Image)
About Toshiba
Toshiba Corporation, a Fortune Global 500 company, channels world-class capabilities in advanced electronic and electrical product and systems into three focus business fields: Energy that sustains everyday life, that is cleaner and safer; Infrastructure that sustains quality of life; and Storage that sustains the advanced information society.
Guided by the principles of The Basic Commitment of the Toshiba Group, “Committed to People, Committed to the Future”, Toshiba promotes global operations and is contributing to the realization of a world where generations to come can live better lives.
Founded in Tokyo in 1875, today’s Toshiba is at the heart of a global network of 550 consolidated companies employing 188,000 people worldwide, with annual sales surpassing 5.6 trillion yen (US$50 billion). (As of March 31, 2016.)
To find out more about Toshiba, visit www.toshiba.co.jp/index.html
About Mizuho Information & Research Institute
With IT as its core technology, Mizuho Information & Research Institute, Inc. (MHIR) is a professional organization with approximately 4,700 employees that provides assistance to corporations in increasing our corporate value through its consulting, system integration and outsourcing services. Our consulting services provide high-quality solutions to customers, with experts in four distinct fields looking one step into the future: socioeconomics, telecommunications, environmental energy and science.
MHIR is one of core group companies of Mizuho Financial Group.
To find out more about MHIR, visit http://www.mizuho-ir.co.jp/english/index.html
Press Contact
Toshiba Corporation
Yuu Takase and Aya Oshima
PR & IR Division, Toshiba Corporation
+81-3-3457-2100
[email protected]
Mizuho Information & Research Institute, Inc.
Aya Saito and Rina Ariizumi
Environment and Energy Division 2, Mizuho Information & Research Institute, Inc.
[email protected]