Challenge of recycling CO₂

In the previous story, we introduced a CO₂ capture module as our initiative toward carbon neutrality.
As the next step, we have been taking on a challenge to reuse captured CO₂ (carbon recycling).

Utilization of CO₂ as a resource

To attain carbon neutrality, it is important to reduce CO₂ emissions. However, it is currently difficult to eliminate emissions, necessitating the use of technologies, including carbon recycling.
Carbon recycling refers to the concept of reducing CO₂ emissions, regarding CO₂ emissions which cannot be eliminated as a resource, and converting such CO₂ into carbon compounds, thereby achieving net zero CO₂ emissions. Applicable technologies include artificial photosynthesis, which synthesizes organic compounds through chemical reaction between H₂ (hydrogen) derived from decomposition of water by using solar energy and CO₂, and methanol synthesis, which is achieved by hydrogenation of CO₂. We are focusing on methanation, which generates CH₄ (methane) by using CO₂ as a raw material.

Our challenge

Methanation is a technology to heat H₂, CO₂, and a catalyst to synthesize CH₄, which is used as a resource.
Our concept of methanation is to capture CO₂ using CO₂ capture modules and synthesize methane. Regarding synthesis of methane, we also are studying the possibility of reusing our existing equipment to reduce the initial cost. At present, we are working on synthesis of methane at the laboratory level. We will expand the scale of demonstration and focus on efforts to help realize a sustainable society.