Hitachi, MOL, and JAL Sign MOU to Conduct Japan’s First Pilot Test of Carbon Dioxide Removal Technology on Kume Island, Okinawa

On June 21, 2023, three Japanese corporations - Hitachi, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), and Japan Airlines (JAL) - signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to conduct Japan's first pilot test of Direct Ocean Capture (DOC) technology on Kume Island, Okinawa Prefecture. This innovative technology directly separates and captures CO2 dissolved in seawater, addressing emissions in sectors where electrification alone is difficult.

The pilot test aims to confirm the applicability of DOC technology using seawater from around Kume Island, gathering essential data on operational challenges and environmental impacts for deployment along Japan's coast. The three companies plan to utilize containerized pilot equipment installed on land on Kume Island, where seawater is pumped in to separate CO2.

Kume Island, known for its expertise in ocean research, is an ideal location for this pilot test. The companies anticipate potential applications of the captured CO2, including local utilization and promotional initiatives centered on the project. This pilot test is meant to contribute to the creation of a new ocean-based value, or "Blue Economy," by establishing a domestic ecosystem for CO2 removal technologies and eventually utilizing recovered CO2 as a feedstock for synthetic fuels like E-SAF.