Photo/Illutration A new co-electrolysis system, designed to generate a gaseous mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen from carbon dioxide and water, is expected to save on power consumption in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture. (Provided by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology)

Researchers have set up an experimental facility that can more efficiently produce liquid synthetic fuel from carbon dioxide (CO2) and water, a technology that could help Japan become a decarbonized society.

The test plant was jointly introduced by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) and the Japan Petroleum and Carbon Neutral Fuels Energy Center (JPEC).

Japan is looking to reduce its carbon footprint to zero by 2050. To accomplish this, the nation not only must cut greenhouse gas emissions and promote renewable energy, but it also needs to “reuse” CO2 emitted from factories and other exhaust sources.

Essentially, the goal is to recycle captured CO2 into fuel and other materials.

AIST and JPEC have focused on creating liquid synthetic fuel from CO2 and hydrogen.

This synfuel boasts the same high energy density as gasoline, diesel oil and other fossil fuels and can be used as an industrial energy source for power stations and factories, as well as automobiles, aircraft and vessels with conventional engines.

The standard production method for liquid synfuel involves two steps: (1) generating a gaseous mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen from CO2 and water; and (2) facilitating chemical reactions of the gaseous mixture with a catalyst.

The first step requires high costs linked to substantial electricity consumption for hydrogen manufacturing.

In the second step, an unnecessary release of a by-product known as hydrocarbon undermines the procedure’s productivity.

At the AIST-JPEC plant, electricity consumption can be reduced by electrolyzing CO2 and water vapor simultaneously to produce a gaseous mixture.

The researchers also created a hybrid catalyst, combining a traditional catalyst with a new one, thereby minimizing the amount of the unwanted by-product.

Those advancements have dramatically enhanced the system’s overall efficiency.

The trial facility at AIST’s Tsukuba Center in Ibaraki Prefecture contains 6.5-meter-tall equipment measuring 12 meters by 45 meters.

It can already churn out liquid synthetic fuel on a continual basis, recording a maximum output of 200 milliliters per hour.

“We will be thoroughly identifying potential problems with the test plant, which could lead to the introduction of a larger pilot plant,” Takehisa Mochizuki, a group leader at the AIST, said. “We aim to pitch our idea to society at the earliest possible date.”

Related News