The use of renewable energy is currently expanding on a global scale. However, CO2-free renewables and nuclear power alone are not sufficient to meet power demand in Japan or around the world. As such, significantly reducing the CO2 emitted from power generation using fossil fuels, such as coal and natural gas, is essential to meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement and Japan’s greenhouse gas reduction targets.
CO2 Separation, Capture, Utilization and Storage Initiatives
The J-POWER Group is developing CO2 separation, capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies as it aims for major reductions in the CO2 emissions from power generation using fossil fuels.
CO2 Separation and Capture
The J-POWER Group has carried out significant testing related to the separation and capture of CO2 emitted by coal-fired thermal power plants. Beginning in fiscal 2019, we plan to conduct large-scale demonstration trials at the Osaki CoolGen Project (please refer to page 21 for details).
CO2 Utilization and Storage
CO2 that has been separated and captured must be handled appropriately so that it does not contribute to the greenhouse effect. To do this, we put this CO2 to use and store it underground.
Utilization
Methods of utilizing captured CO2 include injecting it into oil fields to increase crude oil production in a process known as enhanced oil recovery (EOR), using it directly as dry ice or in other forms, and using it as an input to manufacture chemicals, fuels, or other products.
The J-POWER Group is exploring several ways of utilizing CO2. These include using captured CO2 to increase the atmospheric concentration of CO2 in agricultural greenhouses in order to boost crop yields and agricultural productivity as well as developing technologies to produce carbon-neutral jet fuel through the mass cultivation of photosynthesizing micro-algae.
Storage
Storing a large amount of CO2 deep underground has the potential to significantly reduce the escape of CO2 to the atmosphere.
J-POWER took part in the Callide Oxyfuel Project, a project jointly conducted by the Japanese and Australian governments and private sectors, which conducted trials in 2014 in which separated and captured CO2 from a coal-fired thermal power plant was stored underground in Australia.
Furthermore, Japan CCS Co., Ltd., in which J-POWER is an investor, is conducting large-scale CCS demonstration trials in Tomakomai City, Hokkaido, under contract with the national government. Japan CCS began injecting CO2 into underground reservoirs in fiscal 2016, and aims to inject a total of 300,000 tons of CO2 in the course of the trials.
Japan CCS is also surveying potential sites for CO2 storage on behalf of the government.
Initiatives Aimed at Carbon Reduction and Decarbonization in Coal Use
Given that coal will continue to be necessary to Japan and the world going forward, the J-POWER Group believes that the decarbonization of coal use is of the utmost importance.
Aiming to reduce CO2 emissions from coal use to zero by the 2050s, in addition to CCUS, the Group is implementing initiatives aimed at the commercialization of oxygen-blown integrated coal gasification combined cycle (IGCC),1 developing integrated coal gasification fuel cell combined cycle (IGFC)2 technologies, and advancing R&D in such areas the manufacture of hydrogen from brown coal.
Oxygen-blown IGCC offers high thermal efficiency, helping reduce CO2 emissions. In addition, the gases produced contain a high concentration of carbon monoxide (CO), which facilitates the efficient separation and capture of CO2. Thanks to these features, this generation technology is very well suited for CCUS.
Furthermore, at conventional coal-fired thermal power plants, we are introducing high-efficiency power generation technologies and using mixed combustion with biomass fuels to reduce carbon emissions. In addition to continuing the mixed combustion initiatives already in practice, we aim to realize up to 10% mixed combustion at the Takehara Thermal Power Plant New Unit No. 1, which is scheduled to commence operations in fiscal 2020.
1. Integrated coal gasification combined cycle (IGCC): A combined cycle power generation system with a twin-turbine configuration, comprising a gas turbine driven by the combustion of gas produced by gasifying coal and a steam turbine driven by the exhaust gases from the gas turbine. Oxygen-blown refers to the use of oxygen in the coal gasification process.
2. Integrated coal gasification fuel cell combined cycle (IGFC): An integrated power generation system that combines IGCC with fuel cells and achieves the highest level of thermal efficiency from coal-fired thermal power
Osaki CoolGen Project
Beginning in fiscal 2002, J-POWER was engaged in the EAGLE1 Project in collaboration with the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), a national research and development body. This project was aimed at establishing technologies for realizing oxygen-blown IGCC.
Employing insights and results gleaned from the EAGLE Project, the Company has since been engaged in the Osaki CoolGen Project, with support from NEDO and in collaboration with The Chugoku Electric Power Co., Inc. Phase 1 of this project, a demonstration test of oxygen-blown IGCC (166 MW capacity, with a coal consumption volume of 1,180 tons per day), was completed in February 2019. In Phase 2, we plan to add CO2 separation and capture facilities to conduct demonstration testing of IGCC with CO2 separation and capture. Then, in Phase 3, we will use fuel cells to conduct further demonstration testing of IGFC with CO2 separation and capture.
1. EAGLE: An oxygen-blown coal gasification project that was conducted at the Wakamatsu Research Institute. The name EAGLE is an acronym for coal Energy Application for Gas, Liquid & Electricity.
Osaki CoolGen Project demonstration test facilities (Osakikamijima-cho, Hiroshima Prefecture)
Osaki CoolGen Project—Main Achievements and Targets
Phase 1: Oxygen-Blown IGCC Demonstration
Achievements
1. Reducing CO2 Emissions via High Efficiency
Achieved 40.8% net thermal efficiency (HHV; gross thermal efficiency of 48.1%)
1. Ultra-supercritical (USC): The current cutting-edge technology for pulverized coal-fired power generation (a conventional method of coal-fired thermal power generation in which finely crushed coal is combusted in a boiler)
Note: The graph at top is based on the thermal efficiency values for USC given in BAT reference materials published by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and Ministry of the Environment about cutting-edge power generation technologies already in use at commercial plants without economic or reliability issues as of February 2017.
Achievements
1. Reducing CO2 Emissions via High Efficiency
Achieved 40.8% net thermal efficiency (HHV; gross thermal efficiency of 48.1%)
- Higher thermal efficiency than ultra-supercritical (USC) plants1
- Data obtained allowed us to estimate net thermal efficiency (HHV) of approximately 46% when these technologies are used with 1,500°C class gas turbines (gross thermal efficiency of approximately 53%)
- Increases in thermal efficiency are expected to lead to a reduction of CO2 emissions in comparison with USC plants
1. Ultra-supercritical (USC): The current cutting-edge technology for pulverized coal-fired power generation (a conventional method of coal-fired thermal power generation in which finely crushed coal is combusted in a boiler)
2. Facilitating the Adoption of Renewable Energy
Achieved load change rate2 of up to 16% per minute
2. Load change rate: Ratio of output change to rated load per minute. A larger load change rate allows quicker output adjustment in response to changes in electricity demand.
Achieved load change rate2 of up to 16% per minute
- Load change rate surpassing that of natural gas-fired thermal power generation
- Can be used to balance rapid fluctuations in output from renewables
- Expected to facilitate the adoption of renewable energy by alleviating instability in the power grid caused by the growing use of renewables
2. Load change rate: Ratio of output change to rated load per minute. A larger load change rate allows quicker output adjustment in response to changes in electricity demand.
Phase 2: Oxygen-Blown IGCC with CO2 Separation and Capture Demonstration
Target
Gather data needed to design a new commercial plant (1,500°C class IGCC) that achieves 90% CO2 capture while maintaining approximately 40% net thermal efficiency (HHV).
Gather data needed to design a new commercial plant (1,500°C class IGCC) that achieves 90% CO2 capture while maintaining approximately 40% net thermal efficiency (HHV).
- Capture rate of CO2 at separation and capture equipment: Over 90%
- Purity of captured CO2: Over 99%
Phase 3: IGFC with CO2 Separation and Capture Demonstration
Target
Gather data needed to design an IGFC plant with CO2 separation and capture (500 MW class) that achieves 90% CO2 capture and approximately 47% net thermal efficiency (HHV).*
* Approximately 61% gross thermal efficiency
Gather data needed to design an IGFC plant with CO2 separation and capture (500 MW class) that achieves 90% CO2 capture and approximately 47% net thermal efficiency (HHV).*
* Approximately 61% gross thermal efficiency
Australian Brown Coal Hydrogen Pilot Test Project (HESC* Project)
Hydrogen produces no CO2 when combusted, can be manufactured from a variety of energy sources, and can be stored and transported. By employing CCS technology at the manufacturing stage, hydrogen can be used as a CO2-free form of energy. Therefore, for Japan, a nation poor in mineral resources, hydrogen technologies are promising as a means of promoting energy security and combating global warming.
Aiming to build and commercialize a CO2-free hydrogen supply chain, J-POWER is participating in a pilot test project to produce hydrogen by gasifying Australian brown coal, an abundant, underutilized resource, and transport it to Japan. Within this project, J-POWER is handling the gasification of the brown coal (sponsored by NEDO) and purification facilities for the hydrogen gas produced. The pilot test is scheduled to be carried out in 2020.
Aiming to build and commercialize a CO2-free hydrogen supply chain, J-POWER is participating in a pilot test project to produce hydrogen by gasifying Australian brown coal, an abundant, underutilized resource, and transport it to Japan. Within this project, J-POWER is handling the gasification of the brown coal (sponsored by NEDO) and purification facilities for the hydrogen gas produced. The pilot test is scheduled to be carried out in 2020.
When this supply chain is commercialized, plans call for utilizing CCS to store the CO2 produced during the manufacture of hydrogen from brown coal, avoiding its release to the atmosphere and thus achieving CO2-free operations.
*HESC: Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain
Conceptual rendering of the completed brown coal gasification facilities
Source: J-POWER Group
The 10 largest coal producers and exporters in Indonesia:
- Bumi Resouces (BUMI)
- Adaro Energy (ADRO)
- Indo Tambangraya Megah (ITMG)
- Bukit Asam (PTBA)
- Baramulti Sukses Sarana (BSSR)
- Harum Energy (HRUM)
- Mitrabara Adiperdana (MBAP)
- Samindo Resources (MYOH)
- United Tractors (UNTR)
- Berau Coal
