Feasibility studies focus on Japan-Aus CCS logistics chain

Both studies will investigate the feasibility of establishing an entire CCS value chain, permitting CO₂ emissions to be captured in Japan and transported to Australia for sequestration at a storage site. 

The first agreement relates to the capture of CO₂ emissions from various industries and companies in the Chubu region, Japan, and their subsequent liquefication using CO₂ separation and capture technology. This stage is expected to use waste cold recovery technology developed by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) at a Toho Gas facility. The liquefied CO₂ will be transported to Australia by a low-temperature, low-pressure liquefied CO₂ carrier for injection/storage at Australian storage site.

The second agreement envisages KEPCO capturing CO₂ from its thermal power plants and its transport to Australia. The MOU outlines a generic value chain study, that will consider the end to end technical and commercial factors with the aim of progressing a future CCS value chain between Japan and Australia. The studies include an evaluation of storage opportunities in some of Australia’s offshore basins.

Woodside is progressing CCS projects in Australia and will conduct the study of injection and storage of CO2 delivered from Japan as well as the potential production of Synthetic Methane (e-methane).

Woodside announced in 2021 that it was conducting feasibility studies into a carbon capture and storage (CCS) project near Karratha in Western Australia. The project included the potential storage of CO₂ in offshore reservoirs in the Northern Carnarvon Basin.