INPEX, Sumitomo Osaka Cement test ship CO₂ capture technology

INPEX Corp and Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co. have begun demonstration testing of a calcium-based carbon capture system initially designed for large vessels, the companies said in a joint statement Oct. 19.

The Ca-Looping technology, which the two Japanese companies have jointly researched since August 2023, converts CO₂ into calcium carbonate that can be transported under ambient temperature and pressure conditions -- a feature that could simplify logistics for captured carbon and reduce costs compared with high-pressure CO₂ transport systems.

A demonstration facility has been installed at the National Maritime Research Institute in Mitaka City, Tokyo, where testing is currently underway, according to a joint announcement by the companies.

The initial application targets large vessels, a sector facing increasingly stringent CO₂ emissions rules, the companies said.

The companies said they aim to enable broader deployment of Ca-Looping technology across society beyond the maritime sector.

The technology is also expected to contribute to the effective utilization of CO₂ storage sites owned or operated by INPEX in Japan and overseas, the announcement said.

INPEX brings extensive experience in operating CO₂ separation and capture processes to the partnership, along with a portfolio of geological storage sites. Sumitomo Osaka Cement contributes carbon mineralization-based carbon capture and utilization technologies.

The companies said they will advance technological development through open innovation and knowledge sharing.

The demonstration aligns with strategic roadmaps at both companies, they said.