A CO2 capture demonstration test will be held at the Niigata Mill and this capture demonstration has been launched by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (MHI) and Hokuetsu Corporation. Hokuetsu Corporation is a well-known company and they are one of Japan’s leading paper manufacturers.

The aim behind this demonstration test is to capture CO2 from a chemical recovery boiler. This particular boiler produces the steam and electricity which is required for paper manufacturing and the boiler does this through the use of MHI's "CO2MPACT™ Mobile”, which is a compact CO2 capture system. This test will be very significant to these companies and to the carbon capture industry, because it will be the first time that MHI's CO2 capture technology will be utilised within the pulp and paper industry. Through applying this technology to this sector of the industry, it will become possible to allow MHI to analyse and evaluate data for commercial application, whilst simultaneously accelerating decarbonisation within the industry.

Throughout the process, the chemical recovery boilers use ‘black liquor’ for their main fuel and they access this easily, as it is a by-product in the pulp production process, which is the raw material for paper. Also in this process, the wood chips are dissolved through the use of a sodium-containing solvent which is known as ‘white liquor’ in order to extract the pulp. The ‘white liquor’ component which is used here, is recovered from the black liquor residue which remains once combustion is complete and then it is re-circulated for reuse.

Due to the current and constant rise in the need for decarbonisation around the world, Japan has now become interested and involved in decarbonisation efforts within various industrial sectors. One of the sectors that the company has chosen to focus their efforts on, is the pulp and paper industry. Therefore, holding this demonstration test comes with the expectation of providing the pulp and paper industry with a solution that aids further global environmental measures by directly capturing CO2 emissions within the production process.

On top of all of this, MHI Group has now formally announced their aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. Due to this aim, the company is actively working to decarbonise the energy demand and supply sides. One of the main components of the Company’s ‘Energy Transition’ which has a direct focus on decarbonising the energy supply side, is to create a CCUS value chain which will integrate diverse sources of carbon emissions, which includes modes for both carbon storage and utilisation.

MHI Group stated that it will continue to proactively promote its CCUS business worldwide, applying its, ‘proprietary CO2 capture technologies, contributing as a solutions provider to reducing greenhouse gas emissions on a global scale, and developing further solutions that contribute to environmental protection.’