Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has announced that the Nagasaki Carbon Neutral Park, a centre dedicated to the development of decarbonisation technologies, is now operational.
Located in Nagasaki city, Japan, the new base will be progressively expanded over the coming years.
Nagasaki Carbon Neutral Park will focus mainly on the development of fuel production and carbon capture technologies, with research being conducted at the Nagasaki District Research & Innovation Center.
Applying the thermal energy system design and manufacturing capabilities developed at Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works’ Nagasaki and Koyagi plants, Nagasaki Carbon Neutral Park will accelerate R&D toward product commercialisation and business viability.
In the area of hydrogen production, development will focus on next-generation technologies such as advanced water electrolyzers that operate by solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOEC), and turquoise hydrogen produced by pyrolysis of methane into hydrogen and solid carbon.
Have you read?
Enapter provides electrolysers for Tokyo Gas hydrogen refuelling station
Hydrogen and CO2 to be produced at Babcock & Wilcox biomass-fueled plant
Technologies developed at Nagasaki Carbon Neutral Park will subsequently undergo hydrogen production demonstration at Takasago Hydrogen Park in Hyogo Prefecture, as well as demonstration of power generation in combination with a hydrogen gas turbine.
In the area of biomass fuel production, development will target the commercialisation of synthetic fuel production facilities, including sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) produced by biomass gasification integrated Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.
Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis refers to a technology whereby solid materials such as wood cellulose are reacted with water vapor and a small amount of oxygen in a gasifier to produce carbon monoxide and hydrogen (gasification), which are then synthesized into liquid hydrocarbons (fuel) in an FT reactor using a catalyst.
In the area of ammonia combustion, testing will be performed using an actual size burner of a large-scale combustion test furnace located within the Nagasaki district, with plans calling for co-firing with at least 50% ammonia demonstration testing at a power plant in FY2024 or soon thereafter.
Power Engineering International examines the drivers that are changing the global power generation sector. It delivers up-to-date news and in-depth articles on industry trends, new technologies and cutting-edge projects impacting the global energy transition. It is a hub for thought leadership from industry experts who are shaping the 4th Industrial Revolution.