April 13, 2023
Energy one step ahead
Regarding the start of commercialization of waste-derived domestically produced clean hydrogen production
出光興産株式会社(本社：東京都千代田区、代表取締役社長：木藤俊一、以下 当社)は、2021年11月に出資を実施した北米「Azimuth V Energy Evolution Fund」 ※1を通じた出資先であるH-Cycle社（CEO：Rob Morgan、以下 HC社）と協働し、本年4月に都市ごみ等廃棄物を原料とした国産クリーン水素製造の事業化検討を開始しました。
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A fund established by Azimuth Capital Management (Headquarters: Calgary, Alberta, Canada) that specializes in energy transition-related businesses that utilize technology.
Large-scale use of hydrogen, which does not emit CO₂ when burned, is expected to be used as a next-generation energy to realize carbon neutrality society, but Japan has to rely on imports for most of its procurement, and its use is limited to plants in coastal areas. It is expected that these will be the main focus. In order to further popularize and utilize hydrogen, the challenge is to "reduce supply costs" by securing inexpensive hydrogen raw materials and building a supply chain that enables mass production and transportation.
Hydrogen production, for which our company and HC have recently started considering commercialization, uses waste such as municipal waste generated in Japan as raw material, and HC has the exclusive right to develop gas in Japan using plasma. This is a method of converting waste into hydrogen with high efficiency using a gasification reformer *2 that uses hydrogen.
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A system that collects synthesis gas obtained by gasifying and reforming waste and melts the ash.
Image of hydrogen production that we have started considering
Image of hydrogen production that we have started considering
Image of hydrogen production that we have started considering
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A detoxified black glass-like substance that remains when waste is melted at high temperatures.
It is recycled and used as a raw material for road base material and concrete.
[Features of the business to be considered]
- By using waste, which is a domestic Resources, as a raw material, it is possible to produce and supply domestically produced clean hydrogen.
Traditional hydrogen production uses fossil fuels such as natural gas as raw materials. Waste-based manufacturing eliminates the need to use fossil fuels as raw materials.
This gasification reformer can process not only general household waste but also a variety of other wastes as raw materials. Biomass raw materials such as food scraps contained in waste can offset CO2 emissions during hydrogen production, so it can be said to be a production method with lower CO2 emissions than conventional hydrogen production. Furthermore, by storing and utilizing the highly concentrated CO₂ generated during the manufacturing process using CCS (U) *4, even cleaner hydrogen production becomes possible and contributes to reducing CO₂ emissions associated with waste treatment. -
Perform CCS (CO₂ capture and storage) or CCUS (effective use of captured and stored CO₂).
- Through collaboration with local governments, it will be possible to produce hydrogen locally for local consumption using waste as raw material.
By installing this gasification reformer as a waste treatment facility in each region to process waste and produce hydrogen, we will be able to reduce transportation costs when supplying hydrogen, allowing for local production and local consumption of clean hydrogen. You can expand your supply base. We aim to disseminate efficient waste treatment technology and realize "local production and consumption of energy."
[Reference] H-Cycle company overview
HC is a startup company founded in California in 2021. An innovative waste treatment system will be used to produce renewable, low-carbon hydrogen from municipal waste and other waste.
HC is developing multiple projects in the western United States with the aim of commercial operation in the mid-to-late 2020s, as well as partnerships in Japan and South Korea, with an expected investment potential of US$2 billion. .
H-Cycle社ウェブサイト https://hcycle.com/
当社は2050年カーボンニュートラル社会の実現に向け、2030年ビジョン「責任ある変革者」、2050年ビジョン「変革をカタチに」を掲げています。昨年11月に発表した中期経営計画（対象年度：2023～2025年度）では、下記「3つの事業領域」の社会実装を通して「人々の暮らしを支える責任」と「未来の地球環境を守る責任」を果たします。
Idemitsu Kosan 3 business domains for business portfolio transformation
This study is positioned as an effort toward the development and provide for society of "Energy one step ahead" and "Diverse resource conservation / circulation solutions" out 3 business domains.
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Idemitsu Kosan Co.,Ltd. Public Relations Department Public Relations Division