<Provisional translation>

Roadmap for
Carbon Recycling Technologies

June 2019
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Cooperation of Cabinet Office,
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology &
Ministry of the Environment
※ In the event of any doubts arising as to the contents, the original Japanese version is to be the final version.
CCUS/Carbon Recycling
l With the concept of Carbon Recycling technology, we consider carbon dioxide as a source of carbon, and promote
capturing and recycling this material. Carbon dioxide (CO2) will be utilized for producing recycled materials and fuels
by mineralization, artificial photosynthesis and methanation and this will also control CO2 emissions to the air.
l Carbon Recycling technology advances research and development of CO2 utilization promoting collaborations
among industries, academia and governments around the world and stimulates disruptive innovation.
l Carbon Recycling is one of key technologies for the society, together with energy saving, renewable energy and CCS.

1. Chemicals
• Oxygenated compounds (polycarbonate,
EOR
CCUS urethane, etc.)
• Biomass-derived chemicals
• Commodity chemicals (olefin, BTX, etc.)

Direct Utilization 2. Fuels

• Microalgae biofuels (jet fuel/diesel)
Capture
of CO2 • CO2-derived fuels or biofuels (excluding fuels
Utilization derived from microalgae) (methanol, ethanol,
(welding, dry ice, etc.) diesel, etc.)
• Gas fuels (methane)

3. Minerals
• Concrete products, concrete structures
Storage Carbon Recycling • Carbonate, etc.

4. Others
• Negative emission technologies (BECCS,
Blue Carbon etc.)
1
 Roadmap for Carbon Recycling Technologies
Volume of utilized CO2

Phase 3
Chemicals (polycarbonate, etc.) Ø Pursue further cost reduction
Further reduction volume of CO2, for the
polycarbonate.

Liquid Fuels (Bio-jet fuel, etc).

Cost must be reduced to around1/8 -1/16

Phase 2 Expected to be highly consumed
of current one. Ø Attempt to reduce costs of technologies that are
from 2030
expected to spread from 2030 onwards. l Chemicals
Concrete Products (Road curb blocks, etc.) Ø Special effort should focus on technologies for large- Polycarbonate, etc.
Cost must be reduced to 1/3 – 1/5 of current volume commodity, which will be enabled by l Liquid Fuels
one inexpensive hydrogen supply from 2050 onwards. Bio-jet fuels, etc.
Attempts should be made to reach equivalent cost of l Concrete Products
existing energy and products from 2050 onward. Road curb blocks, etc.

Expected to Spread
Phase 1 Expected to Spread
from 2050
l Chemicals
Ø Pursue all potential technologies for from 2030 Commodity (Olefin, BTX, etc.)
carbon recycling initiatives. l Fuels
Ø Special effort should focus on l Chemicals
Gas, Liquid
technologies requiring no hydrogen and Polycarbonate, etc.
l Concrete Products
producing high-value added materials, l Liquid Fuels Commodity
both of which shall be expected to Bio-jet fuel, etc.
spread from around 2030 onwards. l Concrete Products
Road curb blocks, etc.

Hydrogen JPY20/Nm3 （cost at delivery site）

CO2 capture technology Reducing cost Less than ¼ of current cost

Current 2030 From 2050 onwards

<Review process> Be flexible in the addition of technologies based on the state of international technology development obtained through the International
Conference on Carbon Recycling among Industry-Academia-Government, or proposals of new technologies. The roadmap should be reviewed in five years as needed,
take into account the revision of the “Long term Strategy for Growth strategy based on the Paris Agreement (provisional translation)” . 2
Summary of ※1 Price researched by secretariat
※2 Basic substances, chemicals(excluding some oxygenated compounds), and many
technologies for fuels require large amounts of inexpensive CO2-free hydrogens. Biomass-
Carbon Recycling Technologies R&D derived fuels may require hydrogen for hydrogenation treatment, etc.

Substance After Price of the Existing

Category Current Status※1 Challenges In 2030 From 2050 Onwards
CO2 Conversion Equivalent Product※1

Improvement of conversion
Basic Partially commercialized. Innovative process (light, efficiency and reaction rate, Reduction in Further reduction in
Syngas/Methanol, etc. ―
Substance electricity utilization) is at R&D stage improvement in durability of catalyst, process costs process costs
etc.
Reduce the amount of CO2 emission
Partially commercialized (polycarbonates, etc.), Approx. JPY 300-
for polycarbonate. Other than
Oxygenated Others are at R&D stage 500/kg Costs: similar to those of
polycarbonate, etc. commercialized Further reduction in costs
Compounds [Price example] Price of the existing equivalent (polycarbonate existing energy/products
(Improvement in conversion
product (Polycarbonate) (domestic sale price))
rate/selectivity, etc.)
Chemicals Cost reduction/effective
Biomass-derived Technical development stage (non-edible Costs: similar to those of
pretreatment technique, etc. ― Further reduction in costs
Chemicals biomass) existing energy/products
conversion technologies, etc.
JPY 100/kg
Commodity Chemicals Partially commercialized (Syngas, etc. produced Improvement in conversion Costs: similar to those of
(ethylene (domestic ―
(olefin, BTX, etc.) from coal, etc. is utilized) rate/selectivity, etc. existing energy/products
sale price))
Improvement productivity, cost JPY 100/L level Costs: similar to those of
Liquid Fuel (microalgae Demonstration Stage
reduction/ effective pretreatment (bio-jet fuel existing energy/products Further reduction in costs
biofuel) [Price example] Biojet Fuel: JPY 1600/L
technique, etc. (domestic sale price)) (JPY 100-200/L)
JPY 50-80/L
(alcohol as raw
Liquid Fuel (CO2- material (imported
Demonstration stage (E-Fuel, etc.), partially
derived fuels or biofuels Improvement in current processes, price) Costs: similar to those of
Fuels commercialized for edible biomass-derived ―
(excluding microalgae- system optimization, etc. existing energy/products
bioethanol
derived ones)) JPY approx. 130/L
Industrial alcohol
(domestic sale price)
JPY 40-50/Nm3
Reduction in costs for Costs: similar to those of
Gas Fuel (Methane) Demonstration Stage System optimization, scale-up, etc. (Natural gas
CO2–derived CH4 existing energy/products
(imported price))
Partially commercialized. R&D for various
Other products, except road
Carbonates/Concrete technologies techniques are underway towards Separation of CO2-reactive and CO2- JPY 30/kg Road curb Block
curb block
Minerals Products, Concrete cost reduction. unreactive compounds, comminution, (Road curb block costs: similar to those of
costs: similar to those of
Structures [Price example] order of JPY 100/t (Road curb etc. (domestic sale price)) existing energy/products
existing energy/products
block)

Partially commercialized (chemical absorption). JPY 1000-2000 level

Other techniques are at research/ demonstration /t-CO2 (chemical
Common stage Reduction in the required energy, absorption, solid
CO2 Capture ― JPY 1000/t-CO2 or lower
Technology [Price example] etc. absorption, physical
Approx. JPY4000/t-CO2 absorption, membrane
(Chemical absorption) separation)
Technologies have been roughly established
Basic JPY 20/Nm3
Hydrogen (water electrolysis, etc.) R&D for other techniques Cost reduction, etc. JPY 30/Nm3
Substance (cost at delivery site)
are also underway towards cost reduction.
3
Scope : Roadmap for Carbon Recycling Technologies
The carbon recycling technology, where we consider CO2 as a resource, will begin with a smaller recycle volume.
We expect this initiative will continue to expand into different application areas as achieving cost effectiveness. We
set relatively short-term targets in 2030 while 2050 onward is seen as a mid- to long-term target.

2030: Technologies aiming at achieving commercialization as early stage as possible.

(1) Establish an environment that fosters easy utilization of CO2 (reducing costs for capture and
recycle of CO2)
(2) Processes whose basic technology is established can replace existing products by reducing
costs
(Products that do not require inexpensive hydrogen supply, as well as high-value added products
can replace existing products)

2050: Technologies aiming at achieving commercialization in the mid- to long-term.

○ Early-stage technologies that have greater impacts by using a large amount of CO2
(enabled by inexpensive hydrogen)

2030 (short-term) 2050 onward (mid-to long-term)

Technologies producing high-value added products
and/or not requiring inexpensive hydrogen will be
commercialized first:
Field
• Chemicals (polycarbonate, etc.)
• Liquid fuels (bio-jet fuel, etc.)
• Concrete products (road curb blocks, etc.)
Extended to products that have large demand:
• Chemicals (commodity: olefin, BTX, etc.)
• Fuels (gas, liquid)
• Concrete products (commodity)
4
Individual technologies

5
 CCUS/ Carbon Recycling
l With the concept of Carbon Recycling technology, we consider carbon dioxide as a source of carbon, and promote
capturing and recycling this material. Carbon dioxide (CO2) will be utilized for producing recycled materials and fuels
by mineralization, artificial photosynthesis and methanation and this will also control CO2 emissions to the air.
EOR※
Direct utilization
Emissions etc.
Storage Welding, dry ice
※EOR：Enhanced Oil Recovery
Carbon Recycling

Basic substances
Utilization • CO/H2 Syngas Thermal chemistry (catalysts, etc.)
• Methanol, etc. Photochemistry (photocatalysts, etc.)
Electrochemistry (electrochemical reduction,
（Until inexpensive Hydrogen can be etc.)
supplied, methane (CH4) will be used Biological synthesis (microorganisms, etc.)
Capture Common instead of CO2） Combination of the above
Technology

• Chemical or physical
absorption/membrane separation, etc. • Oxygenated compounds (polycarbonate, urethane, etc.)
• Direct Air Capture (DAC) Chemicals • Biomass-derived chemicals
• Commodity chemicals (olefin, BTX, etc.)

• Liquid fuel (1) (microalgae biofuels: bio-jet fuel/diesel)

Carbon-free Hydrogen Production Common • Liquid fuel (2) (CO2-derived fuels or biofuels (excluding fuels
Substances Fuel derived from microalgae): methanol, ethanol, etc.)
• Water electrolysis • Gas fuels (methane)
• Fossil resource reforming＋CCS, etc.

Domestic surplus renewable energy

Mineral • Concrete products, concrete structure, carbonate, etc.)

Various hydrogen carriers (such as liquid • Negative emissions technologies

hydrogen, MCH, NH3,, etc.) Others
(BECCS, Blue Carbon, etc.)

Common Issues: Overall optimization of heat/pressure/materials (cost reduction, etc.) and

LCA (comparison with the current processes) 6
 Common technology
l CO2 Capture Technology

<Technological Challenges>
Target for 2030 Target from
• Reduction in capital and operational costs and in required
energy
2050 Onwards
Development of new functional materials (absorbents,
adsorbents, separation membrane)
• For low-pressure gas (CO2 separation from
(improvements in selectivity/capacity/durability improvements)
flue gas, blast furnace gas, etc.)
Reduction in production costs of functional materials
JPY2,000 level/t-CO2
Optimization of processes(in terms of heat/substance/power,
Required energy 1.5 GJ/t-CO2
etc.)
Chemical absorption, solid absorption, etc.
• Selection of the types of CO2 capture technologies based on
<Commercialization of CO2
the CO2 emission source/application • For high-pressure gas (CO2 separation from
capture technology>
• Establishing CO₂ capture and conversion systems by matching chemical process/fuel gas, etc.)
• Achieve JPY1,000/t-CO2 or
CO₂ supply and demand with approaching co-production JPY1,000 level/t-CO2
lower
• Transportation and storage Required energy 0.5GJ/t-CO2
• Improve the robustness and
Physical absorption, membrane separation, etc.
reliability of CO2 capture
<Individual Technologies>
• Overall review of other processes systems
• Chemical absorption (temperature swing (current process))
Closed IGCC/Chemical looping, etc. • Optimize CO2 capture
Approx. JPY 4,000/t-CO2
JPY1,000 level/t-CO2 systems according to the
Required energy: Approx.2.5GJ/t-CO2
Required energy 0.5GJ/t-CO2 emission source and
• Physical absorption (pressure swing (demonstration stage))
application
• Solid absorption (temperature swing) (R&D stage)
<Establishing a CO2 capture system> • Full-fledged spread of
• Physical adsorption (pressure/temperature swing,
• Realization of an energy-saving, low cost CO2 CO2 capture systems
less advantages in scale-up, improvements needed in
capture system that is designed for each CO2
selectivity/capacity/endurance life)
emission source/usage
• Membrane separation (pressure difference)
• Realization of 10,000 hour continuous
• Others: cryogenic separation technique, Direct Air Capture, etc.
operation (to demonstrate the robustness and
reliability)
<Process Technologies to facilitate CO2 Capture>
• Oxygen-enriched combustion, closed IGCC
Development of low cost oxygen supply technology
• Chemical Looping combustion
Development of low-cost and durable oxygen carriers

7
Common technology
l Explanations on CO2 capture technologies
Capture technologies Principle
Chemical absorption • Chemical reaction between CO2 and liquid.
Physical absorption • Dissolution CO2 into liquid. Efficiency depends on
the solubility of CO2 in the absorbent.
Solid absorption • Absorption into solid absorbents.
• Absorbents include porous materials impregnated
with amines (for low temperature separation) or other
solid absorbents for high temperature separation.
Physical adsorption • Adsorption onto porous solid such as zeolite.
• Realized by increase and decrease of pressure (i.e.
pressure swing) or temperature (i.e. temperature
swing).
Membrane separation • Permeation through a membrane, which has
selective permeability for different gas species
Application areas
thermal power plants, cement
manufacturer, iron and steel
production, petroleum refining,
chemical production and fossil fuel
extraction
thermal power plants(high gas
pressure), petroleum refining,
chemical production and fossil fuel
extraction
thermal power plants, cement
manufacturer, petroleum refining and
chemical production
thermal power plants, cement
manufacturer, iron and steel
production, petroleum refining and
chemical production
thermal power plants(high gas
pressure), petroleum refining,
chemical production and fossil fuel
extraction
8
 Basic substances
l Methane Chemistry, etc.
(Until inexpensive Hydrogen can be supplied, methane (CH4) will be used instead of CO2.)

[CH4→Syngas (1)]
• Established as a commercial process Target for 2030 Target from
• Partial oxidation/ATR, dry reforming: There is a room for
improvement, such as making the reaction temperature
2050 Onwards
lower, searching suitable catalysts, improving durability,
etc.
<Technological Goal>
[CH4→Others] • CH4→Syngas Reaction temperature: 600°C or lower
• Separation under high temperature conditions (hydrogen (Catalyst: life of approx. 8000hr)
and benzene, etc.) <Costs>
• Development a hydrogen separation membrane
• Direct synthesis of methanol(2) and of ethylene (3) are still • Raw materials are replaced with CO2
that is usable even at 600°C
at R& D stage. (Slide 10and11) and the costs are
• Methane thermal cracking where CO2-free hydrogen can similar to those for existing
<Costs>
be obtained is still at R& D stage (catalyst development, energy/products
• Costs are similar to those for existing energy/products
carbon removal/utilization technology)
<CO2 Emission Intensity>
<CO2 Emission Intensity>
[Wastes→Useful Substances] • Further reduction
• In LCA, the amount of emissions must be
• Sophisticate a recycling technology that utilizes waste equal to or lower than the CO2 emission intensity from
plastics(physical selection of plastics, removal of impurities, the current process
halogen-resistant catalysts, etc.)
• Establishment of industrialized process

<Other Challenges>
• Heat management, equipment costs, development of P.9
low-cost oxygenation (such as the utilization of oxygen (3)
concurrently produced during electrolysis) (2)
Natural Gas Methanol
P.9 Chemicals
CH4 CH3OH
(1)
Syngas P.11 P.12
Ethanol Fuels
CO,H2
C2H5OH
CO2、H2
P.10
P.12

9
 Basic substances
l Technologies to produce syngas containing Carbon Mono-oxide and Hydrogen
Thermal Chemistry (catalysts, etc.)

<Technological Challenges>
• Further improvement in current processes (reverse-shift reaction)
<Other Challenges>
• Capture and reuse of the CO2 produced as a byproduct in reaction system
<Example of specific efforts>
• Thermal cracking of CO2 utilizing solar heat
Target for 2030 Target from
2050 Onwards
Photochemistry (photocatalysts, etc.) <Conversion Efficiency
(Photochemistry)>
Artificial Photosynthesis (photocatalysts) • Solar energy conversion efficiency: <Conversion Efficiency
<Technological Challenges>
• Catalyst Development
10% achievement (Photochemistry)>
Hydrogen synthesis (photocatalysts) → Reverse shift reaction Further improvement of
Direct synthesis of CO <Reaction Rate (Current Density)> conversion efficiency
Improvement in conversion efficiency and separation of gas generated • CO2 processing speed 6t/yr/m2
<Other Challenges> (Achievement of current density 500mA/cm2 at <Reaction Rate (Current Density)>
• System design of a plant whose commercialization is viable ordinary temperature/normal pressure, electrolytic CO2 processing speed 11 t/yr/m2
• Examination and comparison with the current CO production process
efficiency50%) (Electrochemistry) Note 1 ) (Achievement of current density
(methane-derived)
1000mA/cm2 at ordinary temperature/normal
<Catalysts> pressure, electrolytic efficiency 50%)
Electrochemistry (electrochemical reduction, etc.) • Further improvement in durability and Reduction (Electrochemistry) Note 1)
in costs
Artificial Photosynthesis (PV-electrochemical cell) (Others)
<Technological Challenges> (Others) • Synthesis that utilizes thermal
• Development of a catalyst electrode that is suitable for high current chemistry/photochemistry/
density (improve reaction rate) • Development of renewable energy combined
systems electrochemistry/organisms is
• Development of integration technology for catalyst electrodes (improve
the current density per unit volume) • Development of hybrid systems (Photo ＋ the best mix of various
• Production of syngas through co-electrolysis (respond to load change, Electricity, etc.) reactions/technologies.
equipment scale) • Sector coupling: Demonstrate a case where
<Other Challenges> CO is used as a reducing agent for steelmaking
• System design of a plant whose commercialization is viable
• Examination and comparison with the current CO production process
(methane-derived)
• Securing reasonable and stable, large amounts of power derived from
renewable energy

Synthesis utilizing organisms (such as microorganisms) Note1) Estimate under the following conditions: 100MW plant, availability factor:16.3%, and JPY 2/kWh.
Source of the available factor: Materials owned by ANRE (Agency for Natural Resources and Energy)
• Implement various types of R&D Note2) Supplying inexpensive CO2 free Hydrogen is important
10
 Basic Substances
l Technologies to produce Methanol, etc.
Thermal Chemistry(catalysts, etc.)
[ CO2 → Methanol]
<Technological Challenges>
• Reaction at low temperature
Catalyst development/improvement in catalyst’s conversion Target for 2030 Target from
rate/selectivity
• Separation/removal of the water arising from the reaction 2050 Onwards
• Direct utilization of low quality exhaust gas (at a research stage)
Measures against deterioration/improvements of durability of catalysts
<Other Challenges>
• Examination and comparison with the current practical process (reaction
through syngas) <Common Challenges>
• Utilization of CO2 in existing methanol production equipment
• Reduction in process cost
[Syngas → Methanol (or DME)]
<Technological Challenges> <Others>
• Improvement of yields in methanol production • Development of renewable energy
• A system for concurrent production of methanol and DME where syngas combined systems
is used as a raw material • Development of hybrid systems (Photo <Common Challenges>
(production adjustment technique) ＋Electricity, etc.) • Further reduction in process cost
• Considering large-scale methanol
supply chain <Expected Cost>
Photochemistry (photocatalysts, etc.) • Apply the technology to existing • The expected costs are roughly
Electrochemistry (electrochemical oxidation/reduction, etc.) production systems/secure affinity equal to those incurred for
the product synthesized from
Synthesis utilizing organisms(such as microorganisms) natural gas-derived methanol
<Challenges to be taken up when
Implement various types of R&D methanol is utilized as a raw material>
<Technological Challenges> • Demonstrate the technology for
• Direct synthesis of formic acid/methanol(by utilizing the protons in water) methanol to be used in an actual
• Improvement in reaction rate and efficiency environment
• Expand mixed utilization of existing
<Other Challenges>
• Securing reasonable and stable, large amounts of power derived from fuels and methanol as well as the
renewable energy (in the case of utilizing electricity) mixed ratio

<Specific Practical Example>

• Demonstration of integrated bioethanol production from syngas (derived
from waste incineration facilities) using microorganisms (The technology
to be established by 2023: Goal 500∼1,000kL/y scale demonstration to
be implemented)
※ some processes require no further hydrogen
Supplying inexpensive CO2 free Hydrogen is important 11
Chemicals
l Technologies to produce commodity chemicals (Olefins, BTX, etc.)

Target for 2030 Target from

<Technological Challenges>
2050 Onwards
[MTO-olefin] (production plants exist)
• Developing catalysts (improvement in conversion [MTO-olefin]
rate/selectivity) <Catalyst>
E.g., Controlling generation ratio of Ethylene, Establish C2-C4 selective synthesis technology
propylene, butane, etc. • Further improvement in yield and Control of
• Countermeasures against catalyst poisoning selectivity
(controlling carbon precipitation) • Establish a small-pilot-scale process
<Expected Cost>
[MTA-BTX] (R&D projects exist) [MTA-BTX] • The costs are similar to those for
• Developing catalysts (improvement in conversion <Catalyst> existing energy/products
rate/selectivity) • Further improvement of yield and control of
E.g., Controlling generation ratio of Benzene, selectivity <CO2 Emission Intensity>
toluene, xylene, etc. • In LCA, the amount of emissions must
[Syngas -> Olefin, BTX] be equal to or lower than half of
Regarding MTO and MTA, methanol derived from coal <Catalyst> the CO2 emission intensity from the
is implemented or under implemented in China. • Further improvement of yield and control of current process
selectivity
[Syngas→olefin, BTX]
Basic research level <CO2 Emission Intensity>
• Developing catalysts (improvement in conversion • In LCA, the amount of emissions must be
rate/selectivity) equal to or lower than the CO2 emission
E.g., Controlling generation ration of Benzene, intensity from the current process
toluene, xylene, etc.
• Suppression of the generation of CO2 and methane

Supplying inexpensive CO2 free Hydrogen is important 12

Chemicals
l Technologies to produce oxygenated compounds

Target for 2030 Target from

<Technological Challenges> 2050 Onwards
• Reduce cost in the current process or
for commercialization (polycarbonate
synthesis, etc.)
• Further reduction of CO2 emissions
• Reduction in production costs <Expected Cost>
<Expected Cost>
• The costs are similar to those for existing
• Further reduction in costs
Basic research level, under low TRL Process energy/products
(acrylic acid synthesis, etc.) <CO2 Emission Intensity>
• Catalyst development (improvement in <CO2 Emission Intensity>
• In LCA, the amount of emissions must
conversion rate/selectivity) • In LCA, the amount of emissions must be
be equal to or lower than half of the
• Realization of low LCA for reaction partners equal to or lower than the CO2 emission
CO2 emission intensity from the current
(such as utilizing biomass/waste plastics, intensity from the current process
process
etc.)

<Other Challenges>
• Considering another CO2 storage technique
based on chemicals (such as oxalic acid,
etc.)

Oxygenated compounds include (in alphabetical order):

acetic acid, acetic acid ester, acrylic acid, ethanol, ethylene glycol, oxalic acid, polyamide, polycarbonate, polyester,
salicylic acid, urethane, etc.

13
 Chemicals
l Technologies to produce biomass-derived chemicals

<Technological Challenges>
Target for 2030 Target from
(Cellulose-type biomass)
• Low cost, effective pretreatment technique (separation of cellulose,
2050 Onwards
lignin, etc.)
• Establish the related techniques such as dehydration/drying, <Expected Cost> • Large-scale production
removal of impurities, etc. • The costs are similar to those for (geographically-distributed
• Production process of high-value added chemicals from non-edible existing energy/products chemicals production that utilizes
biomass papermaking infrastructure/
• Screening and culture techniques for new microorganisms <CO2 Emission Intensity> agriculture and forestry/wastes,
resources • In LCA, as compared to alternative etc.)
• Utilization of biotechnology (Genome editing/synthesis), petrochemical products (such as
establishment of separation/purification/reaction process techniques oxygenated compounds, etc.), the <CO2 Emission Intensity>
• Fermentation technology and catalyst technology that are not amount of emissions must be equal to • In LCA, as compared to
susceptible to impurities or lower than half of the CO2 emission alternative petrochemical
• Development of effective materials conversion technologies for intensity from the current process products (such as olefin, etc.), the
biomass materials amount of emissions must be
• High functionality in biomass-derived chemicals (adding marine equal to or lower than half of the
biodegradable functions, etc.) <Others> CO2 emission intensity from the
• Diversification and high functionality current process
<Other Challenges> of biomass-derived chemicals
• Establishing integrated production processes (securing production (Controlling marine biodegradable • Introduction into global markets
scale, stability in quality, etc.) functions, etc.) (Marine biodegradable plastics :
• Expanding the scope of target products including derivatives • Hydrogen is necessary in JPY 850 billion (Global market
(oxygenated compounds→olefin, etc.) hydrogenation treatment share of Japan: 25%))
• Expanding the scope of application of biomass-derived chemicals
and verify their economic performance
• Establishing an effective collection system for biomass materials
• Standardization of biomass-derived chemicals/intermediates

• Utilize edible biomass (mainly, ethanol and amino acid)

• Utilize non-edible biomass/microalgae
Image of • Utilize oils and fats
• Bio power generation (ultimately, BECCS)
expansion • Bio and waste power generation
• Diversification of biomass chemicals/fuels
• Synthesize high-value added chemicals (functional chemicals)

※ Such technological development is also common to that in fuel sector (bioethanol, etc.)
※ Cultivation and capturing biomass technologies include marine use as well (fuel sector as well) 14
 Fuels
l Technologies to produce liquid fuel (1) *Microalgae Biofuel (Jet Fuel/Diesel)

Target for 2030 Target from

2050 Onwards
<Expected Cost>
• Bio-jet Fuel: costs: similar to those for existing
energy/products, JPY 100-200/L (Currently,
<Technological Challenges>
JPY1600/L)
(Microalgae→Biojet fuel/Biodiesel)
• Improve productivity (culture system/ gene recombination)
<Production Rate>
• Low cost, effective pretreatment technique
• 75 L-oil/day・ha (Currently, 35 L-oil/day∙ha)
• Establish the related techniques such as dehydration/drying, <Expected Cost>
oil extraction, removal of impurities, etc. • Further reductions in costs
<CO2 Emission Intensity>
• Develop the technology for utilizing oils/fats residues
• With regard to biojet fuels, in LCA, as compared to
• Scale-up (from bench-scale to pilot-scale, followed by <CO2 Reduction Amount>
existing jet fuels, the amount of emissions must be
demonstration level) • Must contribute to 50% CO2 reduction relative
equal to or lower than half of the CO2 emission
• Large-scale technological demonstration to that for 2005 in aviation sectors
intensity from the current process
• Pursuit of cost reduction
<Others>
<Other Challenges>
• Compliance with fuel standards
• Expanding the scope of application and verify economic
• Scale up to the demonstration level and
performance
establish the supply chain
• Establishing an effective collection system for raw materials
• Expand mixed utilization of the liquid fuel and (FYI) If a biojet fuel with a greenhouse gas emission
an existing fuel as well as the mixed ratio reduction rate of 50% continues to be introduced at
• Since hydrogen is used in relatively small amounts 100 thousand kL/yr, a CO2 reduction of 123 thousand t/yr
for oil reforming, the presence of CO2 free hydrogen will be achieved.
increases the GHG reduction impact

*Such technological development is also common to that in the chemicals sector

(High value added products, such as cosmetics and supplements derived from microalgae are partially commercialized)
15
 Fuels
l Technologies to produce liquid fuel (2)
*CO2-derived fuel or Biofuel (excluding microalgae-derived fuels) (such as methanol, ethanol,
diesel, jet, DMC, OME, etc.)

Target for 2030 Target from

<Technological Challenges>
2050 Onwards
• Improvement in FT Synthesis (current
<CO2 Emission Intensity>
process) (Improvement in conversion
• In LCA, the amount of emissions must
rate/selectivity )
be equal to or lower than the CO2
• Improvement in other synthetic reaction
emission intensity from the current
(current process) <Expected Cost>
process
• The costs are similar to those for
<Other Challenges> existing energy/products
<Other Challenges>
• System’s optimization
• Wondering what impact a CO2-derived
(Renewable energy introduction (E-Fuel)) <CO2 Emission Intensity>
fuel may have on the regulations/
• In LCA, the amount of emissions
device/equipment on which naphtha-
<Specific Practical Example> must be equal to or lower than
/crude oil-derived fuels had no effect
• Demonstration of integrated bioethanol half of the CO2 emission intensity
• Demonstrate the technology in an
production from syngas (derived from from the current process
actual environment
waste incineration facilities) using
• Expand mixed utilization of the liquid
microorganisms (The technology to be
fuel and existing fuels as well as the
established by 2023: Goal 500-1,000kL/y
mixed ratio
scale demonstration to be implemented)
※ some processes require no further hydrogen

Costs for biofuels and target for CO2 emissions, the same as biomass derived chemicals and microalgae biofuels attempt to reduce the cost equivalent to those existing energy/products in 2030 as well as in
LCA the amount of emissions must be lower than half of the CO2 emissions intensity from the current process.

Supplying inexpensive CO2 free Hydrogen is important 16

 Fuels
l Technologies to produce gas fuel (Methane)
<Technological Challenges>
Existing Techniques (Sabatier Reaction)
• Long lasting of catalysts
• Thermal management (utilizing the generation of heat)
• Activity management
• Considering scale-up
R&D of Innovative Technology (co-electrolysis, etc.)
[Power to Methane]
• Production of electrolytic methane through co-
electrolysis (utilization as city gas, etc.)
• Integrate the synthesis/power generation of electrolytic
methane that utilizes CO2
• Improvement of efficiency
<Other Challenges>
• System’s optimization (introducing renewable energy)
• Upsizing/cost reduction
• Equipment cost
<Specific Practical Example>
• Commercial scale (125Nm3/h) demonstration that
utilizes CO2 contained in exhaust gas from a cleaning
plant
• Development of basic technology towards practical-
scale (60 thousand Nm3/h) demonstration of
introducing city gas that utilizes CO2 emission from
coal fired thermal power plants
Target for 2030 Target from
2050 Onwards
<Expected Cost>
• Reduction in costs for CO2 derived CH4
<CO2 Emission Intensity>
<Expected Cost>
• In LCA, the amount of emissions must be
• The costs are similar to those for existing
equal to or lower than the CO2 emission
energy/products
intensity from the current process
<CO2 Emission Intensity>
<Others>
• In LCA, the amount of emissions must be
• Demonstrate injection into gas
equal to or lower than half of the CO2
introduction pipes
emission intensity from the current process
• Develop sales channel/use application
• Expand mixed utilization of the gas fuel
and an existing fuel as well as the mixed
ratio
Supplying inexpensive CO2 free Hydrogen is important 17
 Minerals
l Technologies to produce carbonates, concrete products and concrete structures, etc.
<Technological Challenges>
• Separation of effective components (Ca or Mg compounds)
from industrial byproducts (such as iron and steel slag, waste
Target for 2030 Target from
concrete, coal ash, etc.) and/or mine tailings, produced water
(e.g., brine) etc. (including the treatment of byproducts arising
2050 Onwards
from the separation process)
• Energy-saving of the pretreatment (for example, comminution of <Expected Cost>
effective components) that helps to enhance the reactivity with • Road curb blocks: costs are similar to those for existing
CO2 (dry process) energy/products
• Energy-saving in wet process (inexpensive treatment for waste
water containing heavy metals, etc.) <Energy required to mineralize 1 ton of CO2>
• Development of inexpensive aggregates, admixtures, etc. • 200 kWh/t-CO2 (regardless of a raw material and
• Scale up reaction process) <Expected Cost>
• Other products: The
<Energy required to mineralize 1 ton of CO2 > <CO2 Utilization> costs are similar to
• 500 kWh/t-CO2 (utilizing iron and steel slag, dry process) • CO2 mineralization must be applied to ~10% of iron & those for existing
steel slag and coal ash energy/products
<Other Challenges>
• Establish a supply system from CO2 emission sources to <Others> <CO2 Utilization>
mineralization process (optimized to net CO2-fixiation and • Large-scale demonstration • CO2 mineralization
economic performance) • Pursuit of cost reduction must be applied to
• Expand the scope of application and verify economic • Survey on appropriate sites within/outside the country ~50% of iron & steel
performance (development and demonstration of the • Promotion of demands by providing some incentive slag and coal ash
technologies designed to utilize carbonates – verify the scope of (such as procurement for a public work project, etc. ) •
application to concrete products, develop high-value added steel slag and coal ash
articles such as luminous materials, etc.) <Specific Practical Example>
• Long-term evaluate the performance as a civil-engineering/ • Expand raw materials (Coal ash, biomass mixed
building material as well as organize standards/guidelines combustion ash, waste concrete, etc. → Iron and steel
slag, mine tailings, produced water (e.g., brine)
<Specific Practical Example> utilization (lye water), etc.)
• Development of a technology that is used to convert unused
highly reactive industrial byproducts into carbonates (e.g., coal
ash), which pretreated by energy saving process
※ Even now, iron and steel slags and coal ash are used as materials for
concrete but not in the form of carbonates

18
Important points for Carbon Recycling Technologies
l In order to effectively progress R&D in Carbon Recycling technologies to address climate
change and security of natural resources, the following points need to be considered.

ü Inexpensive CO2 free Hydrogen is important for many technologies

ü Under the hydrogen and fuel cells strategy roadmap in ‘Hydrogen Basic Strategy’, the
target at costs at delivery site for 2050 is JPY 20/Nm3
ü While the problem of hydrogen supply remains, 1) R&D for biomass and other
technologies not dependent on hydrogen should be continue, 2) CH4 (methane) should
be used in place of hydrogen until the establishment of a cheap hydrogen.
ü Using zero emission power supply is important for Carbon Recycling
ü Conversion of a stable substance, CO2, into other useful substance will require a large
amount of energy.
ü Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) perspective is critical to evaluate Carbon Recycling
technologies.

ü Reducing the costs for capturing CO2 will positively feedback into Carbon
Recycling.

19
Reference

20
Flowchart for CO2 Utilization (for chemicals/fuels/carbonates)
Methanation
Methane CH4 Natural Gas
Adding CO2
H2O,O2

reduction
Syngas CO＋H2 Fuels（diesel, etc.）
FT Syntesis

CO2 H2
Gasoline
MTG

MTA
BTX

DME（Gas Fuel）

Methanol CH3OH Ethylene/propylene Various Chemicals

MTO/MTP

Ethylene Propylene
Ethanol C2H5OH Butadiene, etc.

DMC（Liquid Fuel）

Polycarbonate, etc.
Polymerizaion Reaction
Carbonates
（Utilized as concrete materials, etc.）

21
 Flowchart: CO2 Utilization (for Bio-derived fuels/chemicals)

CO2 Gasification FT Synthesis Hydroprocessing

Syngas CO＋H2 FT Synthetic Oil H2
H2
Fermentation/Chemical Dehydration/polymerization/
Conversion hydroprocessing (ATJ) Hydrocarbon
Cellulose-type Alcohols
Biomass, etc. Fuels

Bioethanol
C6 Sugar Fermentation w/catalyst
Saccharification Hydrocracking H2
Hemi-cellulose Polymer Intermediates
C5 Sugar

Cellulose Fermentation w/catalyst

Organic Acid
Component Cellulose Nano Fiber
Separation Nano- (CNF)
fiberization
Chemicals/Polymers
Lignin Aromatic Monomer
/Composite materials
LMW Lignins
Lignification

Catalyst
Monomers of Fats and Oils
Vegetable oil,
waste cooking oil, etc. Fats and Oils Hydroprocessing
H2
Fatty Acid Methyl Ester

Microalgae Hydrocracking
Hydrocarbon (Crude Oil)

※Reduction reaction or hydrocracking during the process to produce "chemicals, polymer products or composite materials", may require hydrogen. 22