The Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) has selected seven projects as part of a strategic initiative aiming for the scale-up of carbon capture and storage (CCS) efforts and reduction of costs by 2030.
JOGMEC’s goal is to implement full-scale CCS projects to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. These selected projects are expected to help Japan secure an annual storage of approximately 13 metric tons of CO2 by 2030.
This development comes in response to the Japanese government’s 2020 declaration of achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions and carbon neutrality by 2050. By 2030, the government aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 46% compared to fiscal year 2013 levels.
As part of this strategy, the government has committed to supporting advanced projects that will serve as role models in developing a business environment conducive to initiating CCS projects by 2030.
Additionally, Japan plans to share its CCS technologies, systems, and expertise with the rest of Asia through the Asia CCS Network. This cooperation aims to promote knowledge sharing and improvements in the business environment across the region.
JOGMEC has positioned these projects as critical contributors to Japan’s stable energy supply and 2050 carbon neutrality goal. As part of the Japanese Advanced CCS Projects initiative, the seven selected projects will receive support across the entire CCS value chain, including CO2 separation, capture, transportation, and storage.
The selected projects, which aim to commence CO2 storage by fiscal year 2030, span a wide range of industries including electric power, oil refineries, steel, chemicals, pulp and paper, and cement. They are focused on capturing CO2 emissions from industrial clusters in Hokkaido, Kanto, Chubu, Kinki, Setouchi and Kyushu regions.
The projects aim to store approximately 6 to 12 metric tons per annum (Mtpa) of CO2 by 2030. Five of these projects plan to store CO2 in Japan, while the remaining two aim to do so in Asia and Oceania, securing a total storage of approximately 13 Mtpa of CO2.
Through these initiatives, JOGMEC hopes to achieve approximately 120 to 240 Mtpa of CO2 storage by 2050, significantly contributing to Japan’s energy stability and goal of carbon neutrality.