Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has started operations at Nagasaki Carbon Neutral Park, a centre dedicated to the development of MHI Group’s energy decarbonisation technologies.
The new base is expected to progressively expand over the coming years. According to MHI, of its main capabilities will be fuel production, combustion and carbon capture technologies.
By applying the thermal energy system design and manufacturing capabilities developed at Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works’ Nagasaki and Koyagi plants, the park will accelerate research and development toward product commercialisation and business viability.
Regarding hydrogen production, the facility will focus on next-generation technologies such as advanced water electrolysers that operate by solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOEC).
Key technologies developed at Nagasaki Carbon Neutral Park will be demonstrated at Takasago Hydrogen Park in Hyogo prefecture, along with a demonstration of a hydrogen turbine generating power.
The development will target the commercialisation of synthetic fuel production facilities, such as biomass. This is to include sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) produced by biomass gasification integrated Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.
Ammonia combustion testing will be performed using an actual-size burner of a large-scale combustion test furnace located within the Nagasaki district. The plans will call for co-firing with at least 50% ammonia demonstration testing at a power plant in FY2024 or soon thereafter.
Currently, MHI is pursuing the energy transition as an engine for corporate growth, based on its declaration of Mission Net Zero, targeting carbon neutrality by 2040. Its initiatives fall into three areas: decarbonisation of existing infrastructure, the realisation of a hydrogen solutions ecosystem and the achievement of a carbon solutions ecosystem.
