Japan’s Innovative Co-Electrolysis System Aims for Carbon Neutrality

In Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, a groundbreaking co-electrolysis system has been established to produce a gaseous mix of carbon monoxide and hydrogen from carbon dioxide and water. This advancement, created by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in collaboration with the Japan Petroleum and Carbon Neutral Fuels Energy Center (JPEC), holds promise for improving efficiency in the production of liquid synthetic fuel, a crucial step towards Japan’s ambition of becoming decarbonized by 2050.

Japan is committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions, which necessitates not only reducing greenhouse gas emissions and boosting renewable energy usage but also innovatively reusing CO2 that is a by-product of industrial processes. The targeted approach of this initiative is to transform captured CO2 into fuel and other materials, effectively recycling it.

The focus of AIST and JPEC is on synthesizing liquid fuel from hydrogen and carbon dioxide. This synthetic fuel mirrors the energy density of traditional fossil fuels like gasoline and diesel, making it suitable for various applications in industrial power stations, factories, and even vehicles including automobiles, aircraft, and ships with standard engines.

first, producing a gaseous mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, followed by catalyzing chemical reactions with this mixture. However, the initial step is expensive due to the significant energy required to generate hydrogen, and the subsequent step often leads to the release of hydrocarbon by-products that diminish overall productivity.

At the newly established AIST-JPEC plant, researchers have improved efficiency by electrolyzing CO2 and water vapor at the same time, significantly reducing energy consumption. Additionally, they have innovated a hybrid catalyst that merges an existing catalyst with a new formulation, which helps limit the production of unwanted by-products, further enhancing the overall efficiency of the system.

The test facility at AIST's Tsukuba Center is equipped with equipment measuring 6.5 meters in height and 12 by 45 meters in size, capable of continuously producing liquid synthetic fuel with a maximum output of 200 milliliters per hour. Takehisa Mochizuki, an AIST group leader, noted that they are working to identify any potential issues with the test facility, which could lead to the development of a larger pilot plant in the future. The team aims to present their findings and proposals to society as soon as possible.