Wedoany.com Report-May 15, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has announced the commencement of a new carbon capture pilot project at KEPCO’s Himeji No.2 power plant, located in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. The Himeji No.2 thermal power plant, which operates on liquefied natural gas (LNG), comprises six units with a total maximum output of 2,919,000 kW.

The primary objective of this pilot project is to conduct demonstration tests and advance research and development in carbon capture technologies. These tests will utilize flue gas from the plant’s gas turbines to assess the feasibility and efficiency of carbon capture solutions. The pilot system has the capacity to capture approximately five tonnes of carbon dioxide per day.

This initiative showcases an end-to-end carbon capture and storage solution that MHI has developed in collaboration with the U.S.-based company ExxonMobil. The project aims to reduce environmental impact and operational costs associated with carbon emissions. Additionally, MHI plans to implement a remote monitoring system at the plant to enhance operational efficiency and oversight.

MHI and ExxonMobil have been working together on carbon capture technology since 2022, while MHI has been collaborating with KEPCO on CO2 capture solutions since 1990. In their joint efforts, MHI and KEPCO have developed the KM CDR Process (Kansai Mitsubishi Carbon Dioxide Recovery Process), along with the Advanced KM CDR Process. The Advanced KM CDR Process utilizes the KS-21 solvent, which offers significant improvements over the previous KS-1 solvent. The KS-21 solvent provides better regeneration efficiency and is less prone to deterioration. Moreover, it helps reduce amine emissions, which is a key environmental benefit, according to MHI.

This project represents a significant step forward in carbon capture technology, with MHI, KEPCO, and ExxonMobil continuing their efforts to address global environmental challenges.