The University of Tokyo, Osaka University, RIKEN, Ube Industries, Ltd., Shimizu Corporation, Chiyoda Corporation, and Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. have jointly applied to the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) for their project entitled "Moonshot Research and Development Program / Realization of sustainable resource circulation to recover the global environment by 2050".
As a result, we are pleased to announce that our project, "Integrated Electrochemical Systems for Scalable CO2 Conversion to Chemical Feedstocks" has been accepted.
CO2 accounts for an extremely large proportion of the greenhouse gases generated by human activities, and further reductions in greenhouse gases are necessary to protect the global environment.
In its Long-Term Strategy under the Paris Agreement (approved by the Cabinet on June 11, 2019), Japan has declared its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a major global issue that requires urgent action.
In addition, Roadmap for Carbon Recycling Technology (published by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in June 2019), indicates a policy of curbing emissions through "carbon recycling technology" that considers CO2 as a resource and encourages the effective use of it, which calls for the development of innovative technologies.
Under such circumstances, NEDO will implement challenging R&D to accomplish Moonshot Goal 4, “Realization of sustainable resource circulation to recover the global environment by 2050”, and the joint researchers have been selected(note 1)) as conTractors for this R&D project.
This project is scheduled to last for up to 10 years, from FY 2020 to FY 2029, and aims to develop a process that can capture CO2 in a wide range of concentrations from 400 ppm to 15% and convert it to useful chemical raw materials. Taking advantage of electrochemical technologies, the process will be scalable and distributable.
Specifically, we will develop an integrated system to capture dilute CO2 before being released into the atmosphere and convert it electrochemically into useful chemical raw materials using renewable energy as a driving force, thereby establish a foundation for carbon recycling.
Following the adoption of this project, the joint researchers will develop innovative technologies for CO2 capture and utilization in collaboration between industry, academia, and government, and will accelerate efforts to commercialize and disseminate the integrated system.
Project Name
“Integrated Electrochemical Systems for Scalable CO2 Conversion to Chemical Feedstocks”
Project Manager
Professor. Masakazu Sugiyama
Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, the University of Tokyo
Research and development items（Plan）
①-1 CO2 Capture and Enrichment / Physical Adsorption
①-2 CO2 Capture and Enrichment / Electrochemical Method
②-1 CO2 Electrolysis / Reduction Catalysts
②-2 CO2 Electrolysis / Electrolytic Reactors
③-1 Characterization and Control of Integrated systems & LCA
③-2 Development of Reaction Process & Process Integration
Outsourcer name (in no particular order)
Development items
The University of Tokyo
President: Makoto Gonokami
③-1
Osaka University
President: Shojiro Nishio
①-2、②-2
RIKEN
Head of External Funds Office：Hiroshi Takayama
②-2
Ube Industries, Ltd.
President : Masato Izumihara
②-1
SHIMIZU CORPORATION
President: Kazuyuki Inoue
①-1
Chiyoda Corporation
President & COO: Masaji Santo
③-2
Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
President : Keiichi Kobayashi
②-1
Project period: Maximum of 10 years from FY 2020
Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, the University of Tokyo
Public Relations and Information Office: Murayama
e-mail：press@rcast.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Osaka University
Graduate School of Engineering Science
General affairs section: Ogawa
TEL：06-6850-6131
e-mail：ki-syomu@office.osaka-u.ac.jp
Ube Industries, Ltd.
CSR & General Affairs Department
General Affairs and Public Relations Group: Kudo
TEL： 090-4823-3230
URL ：https://www.ube.co.jp/
SHIMIZU CORPORATION
Corporate・Communications Department : Imamura
TEL：03-3561-1186
e-mail：hideo@shimz.co.jp
Chiyoda Corporation
IR, Public Relations and CSR Department: Tsukamoto / Ikejiri
TEL：045-225-7734 FAX：045-225-7748
URL：https://www.chiyodacorp.com/en/contact/index.php
Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
IR and Public Relations Department: Murakoshi
e-mail：fec.pub@furukawaelectric.com
Furukawa Electric Group’s efforts towards the SDGs
Based on the corporate philosophy of “Drawing on more than a century of expertise in the development and fabrication of advanced materials to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society through continuous technological innovation,” the Furukawa Electric Group is conducting business activities centered on four core technological capabilities (metals, polymers, photonics and high frequency). Moreover, keeping in mind the “Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” adopted by the UN, we formulated the “Furukawa Electric Group Vision 2030,” which clarified the business areas of the Furukawa Electric Group, and are advancing efforts aimed at “creating solutions for the new generation of global infrastructure combining information, energy, and mobility to build a sustainable world and make people’s life safe, peaceful, and rewarding.
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