"Latest CCS Commercialization Trends in Japan": Projects & Energy Practice Team

Latest CCS Commercialization Trends in Japan

1.      Recent CCS trends in Japan

In recent years, the Japanese Government has been promoting Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS) projects as part of its stated aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. So far there has only been one CCS project in Japan, a demonstration project located in Tomakomai, Hokkaido.

However, in March 2023, a council from within the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) officially released the "CCS Long-Term Roadmap Study Group - Final Summary" to promote CCS projects in Japan over the medium to long term, and in addition recommended certain actions that should be taken toward the full-scale implementation of CCS projects.

In June 2023, the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC),¹ a government agency supporting energy and resource development, announced the selection of seven projects² (some in Japan and some overseas) as "Advanced CCS Projects" that are expected to scale up projects and reduce costs. The agency plans to provide support for the commercialization of these projects.

As can be seen from the above, there is now a growing movement in Japan towards the commercialization of CCS projects.

In the next section, we will take a brief look at the history of CCS trends in Japan, following which we will set out further details of the new trends described above.

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Atsumi & Sakai