2017 Vol.12

2017 Vol.12

Foreword
Social Acceptance of CCS
Toshifumi Matsuoka, Chairman, Fukada Geological InstituteFeature03

04

Activities of Inorganic Membranes Research Center
Shin-ichi Nakao, Director, Inorganic Membranes Research Center
Hirofumi Kyutoku, Chairman, Industrialization Strategy Council, Inorganic Membranes Research Center

R&D Activities
Research & Coordination Group ◦ Measures in Future for Deployment of CCS

08

Systems Analysis Group ◦ Research Activities in Systems Analysis Group14

Molecular Microbiology andTechnology Development of Biofuels & Green Chemicals for the Realization of a◦
Biotechnology Group
Biorefinery Society

20

Chemical Research Group ◦ Challenges Associated with the Advanced Industrialization of CO2 Capture Technologies

26

CO2 Storage Research Group ◦ Development of Safety Management Technology for Large-Scale Geological CO2 Storage

32

Inorganic Membranes
Research and Development on Innovative Environmental and Energy Technologies that◦
Research Center
Use Inorganic Membranes, and Efforts toward their Practical Use and Industrialization

38

Topics44

Outreach Activities

52

2016 Paper, Presentation and Publication

54

Foreword

RITE

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201７

Social Acceptance of CCS
Toshifumi Matsuoka
Chairman, Fukada Geological Institute

In December 2016, it was reported as news that snow fell in the Sahara for the
first time in 37 years. In Japan, the term “information on record-breaking heavy rain
in a short period of time” was used many times. It appears that global climatechange due to global warming has become obvious more than ever before. Climate change may lead to a variety of social risks, and a “climate security” concept
has been discussed in many situations. The United States government stated that
“Climate change is an underlying driver of natural disasters and extreme weather
events, increases human migration, and contributes to conflicts around resources,
such as food and water”, and climate change is “a grave threat to the nation’s security”. Climate change has been considered to be a national security risk insteadof a mere cause of a frequent localized torrential downpour, for example, and addressed from such a viewpoint. Needless to say, it is most important to mitigate
global warming that produces such a risk.
CCS is considered to be an economical countermeasure against global warming since it is possible to directly reduce a large amount of CO2 at a time. However,there are some concerns such as CO2 leaks from the ground and the occurrenceof an induced seismicity due to CO2 injection. It is necessary to address these risks
when implementing CCS. Long-term technology development by RITE has largely
contributed to the reduction of these risks. When global risks due to global warming are compared with risks due to implementation of CCS, it is considered that itis better to proceed with CCS taking account of the future of the world. However,human society is very complex.
In 2016, events that overturned the prediction of many experts happened in
the world. In the United Kingdom, it was decided by referendum to leave the European Union. In the United States, Donald Trump was surprisingly elected new
President. In the Netherlands, a CCS project that was planned in 2010 was canceled due to opposition by local residents.
The Dutch government and Shell planned the Barendrecht project that collects CO2 from a hydrogen production plant, transports the collected CO2 to a depleted gas field situated about 17 km away from the plant through a pipeline, andstores 10,000,000 tons of CO2 underground. However, it became difficult to continue the project due to strong opposition by local residents. Experts had estimatedthat the risks of CCS with respect to site workers and local residents would be an
acceptable level, and the effects of noise and waste and an increase in traffic volume will be negligible. However, the project was canceled. It is considered that
discussions and considerations with regard to social acceptance of CCS were insufficient. It may be considered that local residents decided to avoid unduly taking
world risks. We would like to carefully observe the global warming policies of new
President Trump who won the election campaign with an “America First” slogan.
We should keep in mind that a decision that is made by human society often overturns the prediction of experts.
More than thirteen large-scale CCS projects are operating in the world, and atechnical platform is now being established. However, it is another problem whether or not local residents at a construction site will accept a CCS project. RITE has
been leading the development of CCS technology in Japan. I hope that RITE will
also conduct more active research on the social acceptance of CCS.

3

Feature◦Activities of Inorganic Membranes Research Center

RITE

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Manufacturers, user companies, and RITE cooperate to implement
early practical application and industrialization of inorganic membranes
Shin-ichi Nakao, Director, Inorganic Membranes Research Center
The Inorganic Membranes Research Center was established in April 2016 as a research department that aims
to promote research and development of innovative environmental and energy technologies using inorganic membranes and to contribute to protection of the global environment by promoting practical application and industrialization of these technologies.

-Please explain the aim of the Inorganic Membranes Research Center.
Japan is leading the world in research on inorganic membranes. However, only zeolite membranes used
for alcohol dehydration have been put to practical use.
Therefore, it has been desired to implement practicalapplication and industrialization of inorganic membranes for use in a wide range of fields.
I have been involved in academic research on inorganic membranes for a long time, and feels there
has been a tendency that academic research is only
done to write papers. I am of the opinion that engineering research should be conducted taking account ofindustrial applications. When I was appointed as a

mer-based separation membranes, can be used for agroup leader of the Chemical Research Group of RITE

wide range of applications, and have a separation per-in 2012, I thought that RITE could make efforts towardformance that exceeds that of polymer membranes.

practical application and industrialization of inorganic

Inorganic membranes have also been studied and de-membranes instead of doing only research and devel-veloped as a hydrogen separation membrane that is

opment, and prepared to set up a new research de-considered to be indispensable for creating a hydrogenpartment with the consent of RITE. The Inorganic

society. Inorganic membranes are thus expected to be

Membranes Research Center was established with thea technology for preventing global warming.

support of many people.
-Research and development of inorganic mem-Please explain the anticipated role of inorganic

branes have also made progress in Europe, themembranes as global warming countermeasures.

United States, and China. Please outline the situa-

The Inorganic Membranes Research Center aims

4tion in Japan.

to develop separation membranes made of inorganic

Research on inorganic membranes initially started

materials. Membrane separation technology has anin Europe. Japan then started advanced research, andadvantage that its energy consumption is small, andhas led the world in research of inorganic membranes.

significant energy-saving can be achieved as com-

China has been rapidly catching up with Europe andpared with distillation technology and adsorption tech-Japan in recent years. In China, experiments using a

nology, so it is considered to be a promising technology

demonstration plant are performed in the early stage ofthat implements an innovative production process. In

research and development, and identified problems

particular, inorganic membranes have attracted atten-

are fed back to research. Demonstration involves hightion since they have excellent heat resistance and en-cost, but it is important for us to create a mechanism

vironmental resistance as compared with organic poly-that facilitates early demonstration.

Feature◦Activities of Inorganic Membranes Research Center

RITE

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-The Inorganic Membranes Research Center has
established an industry cooperation section, andmakes efforts toward practical application and industrialization of innovative environmental and energy technologies using inorganic membranes.
Please talk about the importance of RITE leading
the establishment of an inorganic membrane industry.
It is meaningless for a research institute to conduct research and development of technology that is
not used practically. I am of the opinion that RITE
should help to establish an inorganic membrane industry while doing research and development. In order toestablish an inorganic membrane industry, it is necessary for manufacturers and user companies to cooperate with each other in multiple ways from various viewpoints. Also the cooperation among the manufacturers-About 1 year has elapsed from the establish-

and among the user companies are indispensable.

ment of the Inorganic Membranes Research Cen-

Since RITE is a neutral research institute, RITE canter, and it appears that various activities have start-

play a coordinating role. RITE has done advanced re-ed. Please give us an idea of future schedule andsearch and development on inorganic membranes,

developments.

and has a considerable knowledge of inorganic mem-

The research section has steadily produced goodbranes. RITE has built a strong relationship of trust

results. The research section has advanced researchmainly with user companies. Therefore, RITE can con-and development that will lead to early industrialization

tribute to the establishment of an inorganic membraneof inorganic membranes, such as a dehydrogenationindustry while cooperating with manufacturers andmembrane reactor for an energy carrier (i.e., technolo-

user companies.

gy that efficiently transports and stores hydrogen) using a silica membrane. We have also proposed a new-The members of the advisory board include

research and development plan to the Japanese gov-

leading experts in the field of inorganic mem-ernment and private companies.

branes. The Inorganic Membranes Research Cen-

The industry cooperation section established theter also aims to transfer technology to medium-lev-

Industrialization Strategy Council that consists of man-el and young researchers. Please give us yourufacturers and user companies. The Council is led byopinion on this.

Mr. Kyutoku (Osaka Gas) who acts as Chairman, and

It is important to transfer accumulated technology

sixteen companies participate in the Council. It has

to the next generation. In universities, the research

formed study groups that implement a need-seedtheme of a laboratory changes when the professor

matching process and draw up a roadmap on a themechanges. Therefore, it is difficult to achieve technology

basis, and has provided seminars exclusive to mem-transfer. On the other hand, research institutes such as

bers, for example.

RITE are free from such a problem.

The research section and the industry cooperation

Fortunately, leading experts in the fields of inor-

section will work closely with each other, and start up

ganic membranes, hydrogen, and fuel cells haveresearch together with the manufacturers, the user

agreed to the aim of the Inorganic Membranes Re-

companies, and RITE so that early practical applica-

search Center, and accepted to work as advisors. I

tion and industrialization of inorganic membranes canhope that the Inorganic Membranes Research Center

be implemented.

contributes to technology transfer to medium-level andyoung researchers of RITE, and also to corporate researchers.

5Feature◦Activities of Inorganic Membranes Research Center

RITE

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Member companies aiming to implement“industrialization of inorganic membranes” hold earnest discussions
Hirofumi Kyutoku, Chairman, Industrialization Strategy Council
The Inorganic Membranes Research Center has established an industry cooperation section in addition to theresearch section. The Industrialization Strategy Council formed in the industry cooperation section with manufacturesand user companies as members is making various efforts to promote practical application and the industrializationof inorganic membranes.

-What did you think when you first heard about-What is necessary for industrialization of inor-

the Inorganic Membranes Research Center and theganic membranes?

Industrialization Strategy Council, and was invited
to act as Chairman?

I think that it is necessary for separation membrane/support manufacturers and user companies to

I had only known about inorganic membrane tech-share a vision toward practical application and industri-nology as one of the research themes while I was thealization of inorganic membranes. It is very important

CTO of a private company, but when I was contacted

for manufacturers and user companies to share their

by RITE, I realized that inorganic membranes are a

wisdom and draw up a roadmap for industrialization ofvaluable technology that protects the global environ-inorganic membranes. We would like to initially ad-

ment and strengthens Japan’s industrial competitive-

dress these priority issues.

ness, and we need to make efforts toward practicalIn order to draw up a roadmap and implement aapplication and industrialization of inorganic mem-need-seed matching process, RITE can play an opti-

branes. I thought that my experiences of technology

mum role since it is well versed in inorganic membranedevelopment in a gas company that is a potential usertechnology and has a neutral standpoint.

of inorganic membranes would contribute to the activities of the Industrialization Strategy Council that aims

-The Industrialization Strategy Council was es-

to implement practical application and industrialization

tablished with the aim of implementing practicalof inorganic membranes, and so I decided to accept

application and industrialization of innovative en-

the appointment of Chairman.

vironmental and energy technologies using inorganic membranes. Please explain the activities of
the council.
The Industrialization Strategy Council has established study groups that draw up a roadmap and implement a need-seed matching process on a theme basis.
The members of the Industrialization Strategy Council
have led discussions with regard to the study groups
for 6 months since the council was established in April,
2016, and a CO2 separation study group, a hydrogenproduction study group, and a common infrastructuretechnology study group were established in November.
I was rather anxious before the discussions started.
However, the members participated in positive andJoined Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. in 1978, appointed as Associate Director
in 2005, Head of Energy Technology Laboratories in 2008, Executive
Officer and Managing Director of the Japan Gas Association in 2009,
Senior Executive Officer in 2010, Executive Vice President in April
2013, and Advisor in June 2016.

6constructive discussions, and are building a relationship of trust. I think that the study groups were established in a very good way.

Feature◦Activities of Inorganic Membranes Research Center

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-Please talk about the key activities of the Industrialization Strategy Council.
Manufacturers and user companies have participated in such councils, and similar study groups havebeen established in various fields. However, the mostcharacteristic aspect of the Industrialization Strategy
Council is that the members of the Council share theaim of implementing “industrialization of inorganic
membranes” and have earnest discussions. I think thatsuch an atmosphere is important for an activity to bear
fruit. I would like to manage the Council so that all themembers enhance that atmosphere.
-It appears that the members of the Industrialization Strategy Council include companies that are
rivals with each other. Are there any difficulties inmanaging the council due to this?
Yes, this is the most difficult point. The manufacturers are rivals with each other, and the needs of theuser companies are connected directly to their business strategy. On the other hand, since the manufacturers shared a sense of crisis that it may be difficult toimplement practical application and industrialization of
inorganic membranes, there was a common ground toachieve cooperation. The user companies have realized that inorganic membranes have high potential,
and increasingly desired to effectively utilize inorganic
membranes. Although there are difficulties from theviewpoint of intellectual property rights, for example, I
believe that we can overcome such difficulties.

-Please state the future activities and goals of
the council.
The study groups will shift into high gear. This is
the first step to implement practical application and industrialization of inorganic membranes. We will conduct further activities such as joint research based on
the results of the study groups while sufficiently reflecting the members’ demands.
We will also provide useful seminars and needseed information to the members.
I hope that the Council can contribute to global environmental protection and strengthen Japan’s industrial competitiveness through early implementation ofpractical application and industrialization of innovativeenvironmental and energy technologies using inorganic membranes.
(Interviewer; Nami Tatsumi, Research & Coordination Group)

Industrialization Strategy Council General Meeting7

R&D Activities◦Research & Coordination Group

RITE

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Research & Coordination Group[Key Members]

Hideaki Tsuzuku
Group Leader

Makoto Nomura, Deputy Group Leader,
Chief Researcher
Satoshi Nakamura, Deputy Group Leader
Masato Takagi, Chief Researcher
Kunio Sakuyama, Manager
Yoshinori Aoki, Manager, Associate Chief
Researcher
Tetsuya Deguchi, Associate Chief
Researcher
Yoshito Izumi, Associate Chief Researcher
Yasuhide Nakagami, Planning Manager

Hiroyuki Azuma, Vice Manager
Jun-ichi Shimizu, Vice Manager
Yuji Misumi, Vice Manager
So Kuranaka, Vice Manager

Measures in Future for Deployment of CCS
1. Introduction“Holding the increase in the global average tem-gases. There are, however, various concerns and challenges for deploying CCS on a full scale.

perature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels

This report provides an outline of the situation sur-and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increaserounding CCS, and the challenges and measures in

to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels”, “to undertake

future for the deployment of CCS on a full scale.

rapid reductions thereafter in accordance with best
available science, so as to achieve a balance between
anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by

2. Zero emission and CCS
Figure1 indicates “Relationship between cumula-sinks of greenhouse gases in the second half of thistive CO2 emissions and projected global temperature

century” are set out in the Paris Agreement which waschange” which is set out in the Intergovernmental Pan-

adopted in December 2015. It is critically important toel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report

implement various countermeasures in order to(AR5) Synthesis Report Summary for Policymakers.

achieve the goals. Especially, the R&D of innovative

The IPCC report explains “Multiple lines of evidence

technologies beyond conventional technologies frame-

indicate a strong, consistent, almost linear relationshipwork is necessary to achieve a balance between an-

between cumulative CO2 emissions and projected

thropogenic emissions and removals by sinks, that is

global temperature change to the year 2100”. There-

to say, “zero emission”.

fore, it is necessary to make incremental emission of

In this situation, Carbon Capture and Storage(CCS) is largely expected as one of the measures toreduce carbon dioxide which is one of greenhouse

CO2, i.e. emission of CO2 per annum, zero in order tostabilize global mean surface temperature.
It is a very difficult challenge to achieve zero CO2emission per annum, but the challenge must be
achieved in the future in order to stabilize global meansurface temperature.
Figure2 indicates the concept of countermeasure

8

Figure 1 : R elationship between cumulative CO2 emissions
and projected global temperature change

Figure 2 : The concept of countermeasure technologies for
Zero Emission

R&D Activities◦Research & Coordination Group

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technologies for zero CO2 emission. First, renewableenergies like solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and biomass and, what is more, nuclear energy are considered to be deployed for electricity demand for Zero
CO2 emission. However, renewable energies like solar, wind and so on are intermittent depending on climate and there is concern about safety of nuclear energy. And there is concern that these energies cannot
provide enough power to meet global energy demand.
Therefore, the deployment of thermal power stations
equipped with CCS is necessary. On the other hand,hydrogen produced from carbon-free energy and carbon-neutral biomass and methane produced from carbon-neutral biomass are considered to be necessary
for meeting non-electricity demand like thermal demand for industry. As CO2 would go into atmosphere in

Figure 3 : The current status of CCS large-scale projects in the world

the process of steel and cement production, CCS is ational cost for CCS is limited to transportation and stor-

sole measure for steel and cement industry to reduceage. It is comparatively easy to deploy CCS in natural

CO2 emission drastically. In addition, “negative emis-

gas production industry. Selling CO2 for EOR is bank-sion” which can reduce CO2 in atmosphere directly isable. These are the reasons why CCS projects are im-set out in IPCC Assessment Report as one of the mea-

plemented in natural gas production industry and proj-

sures to achieve 2℃ goal. The examples considered

ect for EOR. In these ways, the factors that makeas “negative emission” are “BECCS” which is the com-project bankable are indispensable for CCS deploy-bination of biomass energy and CCS, “direct air cap-

ment. The examples of CCS deployment mechanismsture” which can capture and storage directly CO2 in theare explained as follows.

atmosphere and so on. These technologies require
combination with CCS. As mentioned above, CCS is
crucially important to achieve zero emission.

3.2.1. The Boundary Dam Integrated Carbon Capture and Storage Demonstration Project
The Boundary Dam Integrated Carbon Capture

3. Situations of CCS deployment

and Storage Project in Canada became operational in

3.1. The current status of CCS large-scale projects

October 2014 as the world’s first large-scale powerin the world

sector CCS project. CO2 emission performance stan-

According to “The Global Status of CCS: 2016”,

dard applied for coal fired power station entered into

there are 15 large scale integrated projects (LSIPs)

force in Canada in July 2015. As this regulation would

listed in the Operate stages and 6 projects in the Exe-be applied to the Boundary Dam power station, CCS

cute stage. The number of total LSIPs including thefacilities were installed in the unit 3 of this station whichplanning stages of development amounts to 38. The

was planned to be refurbished. Net generating capaci-

number of LSIPs in Execute stage decreases by 1 proj-

ty for production unit 3 was expected to be around 110

ect. The number of total LSIPs decreases by 7 projects

MW. CO2 Capture capacity volume was expected to becompared to those in last year (Figure 3).

1 million tons per annum. Additional cost for CO2 capture facilities was 900 million C$ and Canadian govern-

3.2. The mechanisms of CCS deployment in exam-

ment gave a subsidy of 240 million C$. Most of CO2

ples

captured would be sold for EOR and a part of CO2 cap-

Most of the large scale integrated projects in thetured would be utilized for CO2 storage demonstration

Operate stage are implemented in natural gas produc-

project.

tion industry and captured CO2 is used and stored for

It can be said that the Boundary Dam Integrated

EOR in these projects. As the CO2 capture process is

Carbon Capture and Storage Project is implemented

an inherent component of natural gas production, addi-

under the mechanism of CO2 emission regulation, gov-

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R&D Activities◦Research & Coordination Group

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ernment subsidy, selling CO2 for EOR and so on. (Fig-cost for CCS is limited to transportation and storage. In

ure 4)

other ward, It can be said that the Sleipner Storage
Project is implemented under the mechanism of CO2
tax and because the CO2 capture process is an inherent component of natural gas production. (Figure 5)
3.3. The current status of CCS regulation
3.3.1. The concept of CCS regulation
There is no legislation dedicated to CO2 capture
and transportation in Japan. “High Pressure Gas Safety Act”, “Industrial Safety and Health Act”, “Poisonousand Deleterious Substances Control Act” and so on are
applied to CO2 capture and transportation depending

Figure 4 : The mechanisms of CCS deployment in the Boundary
Dam Integrated Carbon Capture and Storage Demonstration Project3.2.2. The Sleipner CO2 Storage Projecton the way of implementation. Environmental Impact
Assessment and safety regulation are implemented asnecessary.
In overseas where CCS projects are actually im-

The CO2 captured in the natural gas refinery pro-plemented, laws and regulations, such as amended

cess has been injected and stored into geological for-conventional laws, are applied to CO2 storage. As themation under seabed in the Sleipner CO2 Storage Proj-sites where CO2 can be injected safely are recognized

ect located in the middle of the Central North Sea.

as the finite resources, it is necessary to optimize theSince 1991, the Norwegian government has imple-

resources. As there are various oar and resources un-

mented a CO2 tax. According to GCCSI, the tax varies

derground, it is necessary to coordinate CCS with oth-across sectors and time. In 1996, when the Sleipnerer oar and resources legally. The governmental regula-

CO2 Storage Project started, the CO2 tax on offshore

tions are needed from this point of view. As a large

petroleum production on the Norwegian Continental

amount of CO2 will be injected into underground, it is a

Shelf was 210 NOK (35 USD) per ton of CO2. This hasvery important issue whether CCS is safe or not, andprogressively been raised to 544 NOK (65 USD) per

whether CCS has a negative impact on the environ-

ton in 2016. On the other hand, the additional cost ofment or not. Regulation of safety by regulatory author-

injecting and storing CO2 into geological formation un-

ities and environmental impact assessment are neces-der seabed is assumed to be 17 USD per ton of CO2.

sary. As the volume of stored CO2 is considered as the

The annual cost would be assumed to be 100 million

volume of reduced CO2, it is necessary to secure a

NOK. AS CO2 tax would amount to 180 million NOK in

precise measurement of stored CO2. In addition, mon-1996 and 460 million NOK in 2016, injecting and stor-

itoring the CO2 leakage will continue for a long time, so

ing CO2 is cheaper than paying CO2 tax. Therefore,

it is not feasible to impose liability on a private compa-

Statoil decided to adopt implementing CCS in order tony for several decades. Therefore, the responsibility forevade CO2 tax. As the CO2 capture process is an inher-

the custody of storage site will transfer to the regulato-ent component of natural gas production, additionalry authority abroad after 15 to 20 years, or up to
50years passes over. In this way, CO2 storage needs
building a regulatory framework.
Figure 6 indicates the concept of regulatory framework on CO2 storage in reference to overseas regulation. At first, site selection will be done. If enough information is not acquired, site exploration will be done.
Exploration authorization by government will be granted after reviewing from the viewpoints of effective utilization of underground space resource, harmonization
among other underground resources and so on. When

10

Figure 5 : The mechanisms of CCS deployment in The Sleipner
CO2 Storage ProjectR&D Activities◦Research & Coordination Group

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this Directive. This Directive is a comprehensive framework which prescribes from site selection and exploration permit to post closure. Most of the member states
had already transposed CCS Directive into national
law to date.
CO2 storage is regulated in USA by UIC (Under
Injection Control) under Safety Drinking Water Act(SDWA) from the viewpoint of securing safe drinking
Figure 6 : Concept of regulation system on CCS

water. The content of regulation differs according totype of injection well. Class VI is prescribed as the cri-

CO2 storage at the site is feasible as the result of ex-

teria for CO2 underground injection. As this regulation

ploration, an environmental Impact assessment will be

is aimed for securing safe drinking water, it does not

implemented and then, an exploration authorization

have the concept of exploration authorization similar to

application will be filed to relevant authority.

those in Japan, but establish the criteria of injection

The application will be reviewed from the view-safety.

points of whether it can be implemented safely or not,“Offshore Petroleum Act” was amended as CO2

whether it will adversely affects environment or not,storage relevant law in Australia. This act is a compre-

and whether the applicant has financial and technicalhensive one which prescribes site selection, explora-capability or not. It moves to construction stage of facil-tion permit, injection permit, criteria of injection safety

ities and equipment after granting CO2 storage authori-and post closure custody.

zation. It will be operational after the construction iscompleted and the applicant informs relevant authorityof “injection notification”. After the injection at site is

3.3.3. The status of transposition of EU CCS Directive into Member State’s national law

implemented and ends as planned, the operator will

Table 1 indicates the status of transposition of EU

inform relevant authority of “cessation of injection noti-

CCS Directive into Member State’s national law. CCS

fication” and it will enter closure period. Then, the site

Directive had been entered into force in 2009. Member

is closed and monitoring for CO2 leakage will be imple-

States were expected to transpose the directive into

mented. The responsibility for the custody of storage

national laws by 2011, and ensure the national law en-site will transfer to the regulatory authority after 15 toters into force by 2012, but transposition of the CCS

20 years passes. It is also necessary to prescribe cor-Directive was accepted by the EC only in Spain byrective measures and remediation measures in case of

2011. Member States had gradually transposed after-

irregularities.

ward. By the end 2013, the CCS Directive has beentransposed into national law in 28 EU Member States

3.3.2. The status of regulation for CO2 storage inthe world

including Croatia which entered the EU in 2013 although some of them were still reviewed by EU.

There is “Act on Prevention of Marine Pollution

As a result, UK, The Netherlands, France, Spainand Maritime Disaster” as CCS relevant law, and there

and other nations allow CO2 Geological storage at all

are “High Pressure Gas Safety Act”, “Mining Act”, “Mineareas of its land. Belgium, Greece and Italy allow CO2

Safety Act”, and so on as other relevant laws in Japan.

storage excluding selected areas like seismically ac-

These laws are aimed for conservation of environment

tive areas and areas where the storage complex ex-

and securement of safety. There is not a dedicated law

tends beyond territory. Norway and Sweden permit

for CCS which includes exploration authorization, safe-

CO2 storage only in offshore areas. In Germany, only

ty criteria of injection and so on from the viewpoints oflimited CO2 storage will be permitted until 2018 (up to 4

optimizing the underground resources etc. in Japan.

Mt CO2 annually and maximum 1.3 Mt per one project).

The CCS Directive had entered into force as CCS

In Denmark, regulations have prohibited storage with

relevant law and regulation in Europe in 2009. Site se-the exception of offshore CO2-enhanced oil recovery

lection, exploration, application, authorization, opera-(EOR). CO2 storage is prohibited in Poland except for

tion, liability of post closure and so on are prescribed indemonstration projects. CO2 storage is prohibited per-11

R&D Activities◦Research & Coordination Group

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Table 1 : The status of transposition of EU CCS Directive into national laws (limited to CO2 storage)

manently except for research and development in

has also started to develop IS for post combustion cap-

Austria, Finland, Ireland and other nations.

ture technology integrated with power plant. Commit-

Only limited CO2 storage will be permitted until
2018 (up to 4 Mt CO2 annually) in Germany which is
the largest CO2 emitter in EU because new CCS Act
was rejected by the Bundesrat (Federal Council) andthen Bundestag and Bundesrat eventually reached atee Draft was approved and now WG1 is developing
Draft International Standard (DIS).
WG2 has developed IS on transportation by pipeline and this IS was published in November 2016.
WG3 is developing IS on onshore and offshore

compromise. In Poland which is 5 large emitter in EU,

CO2 storage. Draft International Standard was ap-

CO2 storage is prohibited except for-demonstration

proved and now WG3 is developing Final Draft Interna-

projects after long debate. It is reported as the back-tional Standard (FDIS).

th

ground that the influence of Green NGOs on public

TR compiled with the information of quantification

opinion is high in Germany and Poland. It is thought

and verification was approved and now in the processthat the deadline of transposing EU CCS Directive intoof publication. WG4 started to develop IS on quantifi-

Member State’s national law caused compromise

cation and verification based on this TR.

which is not good for CCS deployment in these exam-

WG5 is developing IS on vocabulary. DIS on crossples. These things should be considered when frame-

cutting terms is approved. TR for life-cycle risk man-work of CCS deployment will be established in future inagement was approved and now in the process of pub-Japan.

lication.
Committee Draft for CO2-EOR was rejected and3.3.4. International standardization for CCS

WG6 is revising the contents of the CD.

A technical Committee (ISO/TC265) was estab-

As mentioned above, the first TR and IS were pub-lished within International Organization for Standard-lished in 2016. International standardization for CCS

ization (ISO) and the international standards for CCS

has been progressing steadily.

have been developed under this ISO framework. Six
working groups are set up under the TC: Capture WG,
Transportation WG, Storage WG, Cross-Cutting WG,
Quantification & Verification WG and Enhanced Oil Re-

steadily4.1. 
Challenges and things to tackle for deploy-covery WG. For participating to this international

ment of CCS

framework, Japan set up the mirror committee of ISO/

It is impossible to deploy CCS, the measure toTC265 for the domestic discussion.

global warming which is external diseconomy, under

Table 2 and Figure 7 indicate the status of WG

market mechanism. Therefore, it is required creating

activities and development schedule. Each WG is de-incentives such as subsidies, tax exemption and regu-

veloping International standards (IS) and Technical re-lation system. Reducing cost and uncertainty of project

port (TR).

is necessary to deploy CCS on a large scale. In partic-

TR on CO2 capture was finalized and published in
May 2016. Japan took a lead of WG1 activity and thisTR is the first published document from TC265. WG1

12

4. 
Trends of measures for deployment of CCS

ular, ① implementing R&D for cost reduction, ② understanding CO2 storage capacity and making data-base, ③ development of economical and safe CCS

R&D Activities◦Research & Coordination Group

RITE

Today

201７

Table 2: Summary of WGs activities
WG

Work items

WG1(Capture）

Target date TR 27912 based on Japanese draft which
compiles CO2 capture technologies had
been published. （2016/5/15)
 DIS is in the process of the development.
IS 27919-1
 The next NWIP will be submitted.

Note

TR:2016(done)

TR27912 is the firstpublication from
TC265.

IS:2018

 IS27913 is had been published.
（2016/11/1)

IS:2016(done)

IS27913 is the first IS
from TC265.

 DIS was approved. WG3 is developing
FDIS. IS 27914

IS:2017

Vote of FDIS isscheduled on May
2017.

WG4
（Q&V）

 TR 27915 is in the process of publication.
WG4 started to develop IS. ISO/ AWI27920

TR:2017

Started to develop IS

WG5（Cross-Cutting
Issues）

 FDIS on CCS vocabulary is expected to
be prepared. IS 27917
 TR for Lifecycle risk management is in
the process of the publication. TR27918
 New item on CO2 stream composition

IS:2017
TR:2017

The development
period of IS 27917 wasextended to 4 years.

WG6（CO2-EOR）

 2nd CD is in the process of CD voting.
ISO 27916

IS:2018

The development
period will be extended.

WG2(Transportation）
WG3（Storage）

Source：RITE（Reference）The outline of International standardization procedure
New Work
Item Proposal

TR on CO2 capture technology【TR27912】
WG1

Committee
Draft

Draft ofInternational
Standard

2013

2014

2015

NP

WD

DTR

Working Draft

IS on Ｐost coｍbustion【IS27919-1】

Final Draft ofInternational
Standard

2016

2018

2017

Publication

NP

WD

CD

IS on Capture (Step2)
IS on transportation by pipeline【IS27913】

NP

WG3

IS on storage【IS27914】

NP

TR on Q&V
【TR27915】
WG4
IS on Q&V
【IS27920】

WD

CD

ＤＩＳ

Development

Publication

FDIS

CD

WD
NP

PublicationNP

IS on vocablary【IS27917】

NP

WD

TR on risk management【TR27918】

CD

DIS
ＷＤ

NP

TR on CO2 Stream composition
IS on CO2-EOR
WG6【IS27916】

NP

ＷＤ

FDIS Publication

DIS
DTR

WD

Publication

DIS
Prepare ＮＰ

WG2

WG5

Publication of
1
International
Standard

ＣＤ

Development

WD
FDIS

Publication

DTR

Publication

Prepare ＮＰ

Developmenbt

CD2

DIS

FDIS Publication

NP:New work item proposal, WD:Working draft, CD:Committee draft, DIS:Draft International standrad, FDIS:Final DIS, DTR:Draft Technikal report

Figure 7 : Work plan of developing documents

suitable to Japanese geological formations, ④ estab-

CO2, i.e. emission of CO2 per annum, zero in order tolishing mechanisms and regulation systems for CCS

stabilize global mean surface temperature. “Negative

deployment, and ⑤ promoting public understanding ofemission” is one of the measures to achieve zero emis-

CCS are indispensable.

sion. These technologies require combination with
CCS. CCS is critically important for zero emission.

4.2. Things to clarify for deployment of CCS

The factors that make project bankable are indis-

The establishment of regulation systems is neces-

pensable for CCS deployment. The Boundary Dam In-

sary for the deployment of CCS in future. It is thoughttegrated Carbon Capture and Storage Project is imple-

that we have to evade promoting it prematurely, con-mented under the mechanism of CO2 emission

sidering the procedure of transposing EU CCS Direc-

regulation, government subsidy, selling CO2 for EOR

tive to national laws in Germany and Poland. There-

and so on. The Sleipner Storage Project is implement-

fore, it is necessary to get the enough understanding of

ed under the mechanism of CO2 tax and so on.

stakeholders and public for CCS deployment. Follow-

In overseas where CCS projects are actually im-ing points are needed to be clarified at least for gaining

plemented, laws and regulations, such as amended

the understanding by stakeholders and public. ① theconventional laws, are applied to CO2 storage. It isoutline of incentive mechanisms and regulation sys-

necessary in Japan to establish the regulation systems

tems for CCS deployment, ② estimated cost for CCS

for CCS in future but to evade promoting it prematurely.

deployment borne by stakeholders and public and ③

It is necessary to get the enough understanding by

estimated volume of reduced CO2 by CCS. It is indis-

stakeholders and public of CCS deployment. ① The

pensable for CCS deployment to investigate and con-outline of incentive mechanisms and regulation sys-

sider above things and provide the results. In particu-

tems for CCS deployment, ② Estimated cost for CCS

lar, commencing to investigate CO2 storage capacity is

deployment borne by stakeholders and public and ③

desired as it takes a long time and many funds.

Estimated volume of reduced CO2 by CCS are needed
to be clarified at least for understanding by stakehold-

5. Conclusioners and public.

It is necessary to make incremental emission of13

R&D Activities◦Systems Analysis Group

RITE

Today

201７

Systems Analysis Group[Key Members]
Toshimasa Tomoda, Chief Researcher
Kenichi Wada, Senior Researcher
Miyuki Nagashima, Senior Researcher
Takashi Homma, Senior Researcher
Fuminori Sano, Senior Researcher
Junichiro Oda, Senior Researcher
Hironobu Yamakawa, Senior Researcher
Yasuhide Nakagami,
Senior Researcher (concurrent)

Ayami Hayashi, Researcher
Yosuke Arino, Researcher
Bianka Shoai Tehrani, Researcher
Keii Gi, Researcher

Keigo AkimotoGroup Leader,
Chief Researcher

Research Activities in Systems Analysis GroupThe Systems Analysis Group aims to provide valu-

1. 1. Uncertainties regarding temperature target

able information about measures on global warming

and the assumed temperature trajectories forand energy issues, both inside Japan and internation-

the 1.5 °C target

ally by thinking them systematically and through sys-

While the Paris Agreement states the 1.5 °C tar-tems analyses. We present here three research topics

get, large scientific uncertainties in temperature esti-

out of our research activities conducted in 2016; 1) themation exist as well as the ambiguity of the politicalanalyses on the 1.5 °C target which was touched uponstatement. For example, timing and probability of thein the Paris Agreement, 2) the evaluations of emission

achievement, climate sensitivity and probability density

reduction strategies including co-benefit analyses offunction are uncertain.

CO2 and PM2.5 reductions considering current hot discussions in China, the U.S. and other countries, and 3)

Table 1 : The scenarios for the 1.5 °C target analyses

the evaluations of economically rational investments

Temperature trajectories

on global warming mitigation under volatilities of carbon price (the analysis for CCS was implemented).
Our group contributes to the planning of better climatechange policies and measures through such analyses
and evaluations.
1. Evaluations on emission pathways and costs forthe 1.5 °C target
The Paris Agreement which was adopted in December 2015 and entered into force in November 2016
contains: “To hold the increase in the global averagetemperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial
levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels.” The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) decided to publish a special report by 2018. In thisbackground, RITE analyzed the emission pathways
and costs for the 1.5 °C target.

Equilibrium climate sensitivitya) 3.4 °Cb) 3.0 °Cc) 2.5 °CI) 1.5 °C stabilization(below 1.5 °C over time)

I-a

I-b

I-c

II) Below 1.5 °C by 2100
( temperature overshoot; peaktemperature: around 1.75 °C)

II-a

II-b

II-c

III) Below 1.5 °C by 2300
( temperature overshoot; peaktemperature: around 2.0 °C)

III-a

III-b

III-c

This study assumes three kinds of temperature
trajectories and three kinds of climate sensitivities asshown in Table 1. The climate sensitivity was likely to
be 2.0-4.5 °C and the best estimate was 3.0 °C in the
Fourth Assessment Report of IPCC (2007) (in thiscase, the climate sensitivity of 3.4 °C corresponds tothe achievement of the temperature target with 66%
probability). The sensitivity was likely to be 1.5-4.5 °C
and no consensus of the best estimate was obtained in
the Fifth Report (2013) (The range was 1.5-4.5 °C andthe best estimate was 2.5 °C in the Third Report(2001)). Based on them, the climate sensitivity for the
analyses for the temperature target was assumed asshown in Table 1.

14

R&D Activities◦Systems Analysis Group

1. 2.Emission pathways for achieving the 1.5 °C
target

RITE

Today

201７

emission is required by 2030 and negative emissions
should continue until 2300. It will be infeasible to

The global CO2 emission pathways for achieving
the 1.5 °C target corresponding to the scenarios shownachieve it by CO2 fixation through reforestation/ afforestation due to the global land constraints.

in Table 1 were estimated by using a simple climatechange model MAGICC which is employed for the

1. 3. The emission reduction costs and measures

IPCC reports and a global energy and climate change

for the 1.5 °C target

mitigation model DNE21+ which is developed by RITE.

The global emission reduction measures andAs seen in Figure 1, the net negative global emissions

costs up to 2050 were analyzed with DNE21+ model.

are required in all scenarios. Particularly in the over-

There were no feasible solutions by DNE21+ inshoot scenarios of Scenarios II and III, negative emis-

Scenarios I-a and II-a. In Scenarios I-b and II-b whichsions of about 20 GtCO2/yr are required in 2100. In theassume 3.0 °C of climate sensitivity, there were feasi-

long run, zero CO2 emissions are required even for any

ble solutions by 2050, but the marginal abatement costlevels of temperature stabilization.

in 2050 is 710 and 5900 $/tCO2 for Scenario II-a and

The 2030 global greenhouse gas (GHG) emission

I-a, respectively.

should be reduced by 85% relative to 2010 level in

Figure 2 shows global primary energy supply for

Scenario I-a which is the deepest reduction scenario

the 1.5 °C target. The amounts of coal supply are re-within the assumed scenarios. The 2030 GHG emis-

duced and deployments of BECCS are required insion for Scenario III-b which is the loosest reduction

2030 in Scenario I-b. In Scenarios I-c and III-b, andscenario is nearly consistent with the expected emis-

Scenario III-C, the drastic changes were not observed

sion of NDCs; however, significant net negative global

until 2030 and 2050, respectively (However, the drastic

Figure 1 : Global CO2 emission pathways for the 1.5 °C

Figure 2 : Global primary energy supply for the 1.5 °C target

15

R&D Activities◦Systems Analysis Groupemission reductions are required after 2050).
While total primary energy supply decreases in

RITE

Efficiency

Emission
reductionmeasures*1SO2 emission[gSO2/kWh]NO2 emission[gNO2/kWh]Capital cost
[US$/kW]Low

Without
With

9.88
0.24

4.39
0.44

600
970

Without
With

5.97
0.14

2.65
0.27

1250
1470

electricity generation increases with lower CO2 intensi2050 and achieved through reforestation/afforestation

Coal
power

MiddleHigh*

and CCS.

2Low

1. 4. Conclusions

Oil
power

Middle

With

0.12

0.23

1700

Without
With

20.16
0.86

2.88
0.29

250
620

Without
With

12.06
0.52

1.72
0.17

650
870

The Paris Agreement contains not only the 2 °C

High*

With

0.39

0.13

1100

target but also the 1.5 °C target. There are several un-

Low

Without
With

0.29
0.29

1.80
0.18

300
360

MiddleWithout
With

0.20
0.20

1.23
0.12

650
690

High*2

With

0.15

0.09

1100

certainties regarding the temperature targets and

Gas
power

therefore a wide range of possible emission pathways.
However, even if such large uncertainties are considered, there are large gaps between the expected global emission in 2030 by the submitted NDCs and mostof the emissions for the 1.5 C target. Even in the scenario which has the small gap in 2030, the large negative emissions are required continuously, and there
exists only a very small chance of realizing the 1.5 °C
target.
An analysis on correlation between climate
2. change mitigation and air pollution control
2. 1. Introduction
Serious impacts of suspended particulate matterson human health are concerned in some developed
countries as well as many developing countries. On
the other hand, climate change is one of the top agenda to be tackled in the world. In these backgrounds, theco-benefits of climate change mitigation on air pollution
control are attracting attention. Correlation between climate change mitigation and air pollution control focusing on SO2 and NO2 emission reductions in power sector was analyzed by using a global energy systems
model DNE21+.

2*1 Assumed three emission reduction measures are adopted for ‘With’cases; exceptions are ‘With’ cases of gas power plants where desulfurization is not assumed.
*2 Employment of all of the emission reduction measures is assumed
for the “high” efficiency technologies.

2. 3. Analyzed scenarios
Baseline case (CO2: Any climate change mitigation policies are not included. SO2 and NO2: Emission
intensities of fossil fuel power plants are kept below
2010 level.) and the reduction cases in Table 3 wereanalyzed.
CO2 reductions prioritized cases seek global CO2
emission reduction without any explicit regional emission target of SO2 and NO2. Three levels of CO2 emission reductions are assumed; CP4.5: stabilization ataround 650 ppm-CO2eq.; CP3.7: stabilization at around
550 ppm-CO2eq.; CP3.0: +2 °C target. The amounts of
SO2 and NO2 emissions brought about by the CO2
emission reductions are obtained in CO2 reductions
prioritized cases. PM2.5 reductions prioritized cases
seek the above amounts of SO2 and NO2 emissions
reductions by region with least-cost measures without
explicit CO2 emission reduction targets.
Table 3 : Analyzed scenarios

2. 2. Assessment model for SO2 and NO2 emission

Assumption

reduction measures in power sector
Three types of the commercialized end-of-pipe
technologies in fossil fuel power plant for reducing SO2
and NO2 are explicitly modelled: flue-gas desulfuriza-

CO2
reductions
prioritizedcasetion, combustion modification (e.g., low NOx burner),and selective catalytic reduction. Assumed SO2 andNO2 emissions per unit of electricity generation andcapital cost for plants with and without emission reduction measures in 2030 are summarized in Table 2.

16

201７

Table 2 : Assumed SO2 and NO2 emissions per unit of electricity
generation and capital cost in 2030

the deeper emission reductions scenarios, the total
ty. CO2 fixation of about 10 GtCO2/yr is required by

Today

PM2.5
reductions
prioritizedcaseEnergy-related
CO2

Global emission caps with uniform marginal
abatement cost are assumed. Three levels ofemission reductions are assumed: CP4.5, CP3.7,
and CP3.0.

SO2, NO2

SO2 and NO2 emission intensities of fossil fuelpower plants are kept below 2010 level by region.

Energy-related
CO2

Any climate change mitigation policies are notincluded.

SO2, NO2

SO2 and NO2 emissions induced by the CO2
emission reduction targets in the CO2 reductions
prioritized cases are adopted as regional emission caps by region.

R&D Activities◦Systems Analysis Group

RITE

Today

201７

2. 4. Results
Figure 3 shows global electricity generation mix in
2030. For the CO2 reductions prioritized cases, switching from coal to gas, nuclear and renewables forachieving CO2 emission reduction are observed. In addition, decrease in total electricity generation throughenergy savings in energy end-use sectors is observed.
Accompanying these CO2 emission reduction, SO2 andNO2 emission reductions in power sector are obtained.
In 2030, SO2 and NO2 emissions are almost same as
those in 2010 for CP4.5. For CP3.7 and CP3.0, SO2
emissions in 2030 are about 60% and 18% of the 2010
level, respectively, and NO2 emissions are 26%.
On the other hand, coal power with the end-ofpipe type technologies is widely deployed in the PM2.5

Figure 4 : S
 O2 and NO2 Emission reduction contributions by measure for
CP3.7

reductions prioritized cases. If SO2 and NO2 emission

measures for SO2 emission reduction at first. In thisreductions for air pollution control are principal targets,way, the priority of the type of emission reduction mea-

the end-of-pipe type technologies for fossil fuel powersures under the least-cost measures is different be-plants are major reduction measures.

tween CO2 emission and SO2 and NO2 emissions reductions.
Estimated cumulative global emission reduction
costs from 2000 to 2050 (Discount rate: 5%) are 0.8
Trillion US$ (CP4.5)–5.3 Trillion US$ (CP3.0) for theCO2 reductions prioritized cases. For the PM2.5 reductions prioritized cases, their costs are 0.1 Trillion US$(CP4.5)–0.8 Trillion US$ (CP3.0). The costs of the CO2
reductions prioritized case are much higher than thoseof the PM2.5 reductions prioritized case.
Climate change mitigation is important andco-benefits of CO2 emission reduction to PM2.5 reduction are observed. However, if health impacts causedby PM2.5 are serious, the deployment of the end-of-

Figure 3 : Global electricity generation mix in 2030

pipe type technologies for SO2 and NO2 emission re-

Emission reduction contributions by measure are

ductions prior to large CO2 emission reductions, whichanalyzed based on the Kaya identity. Figure 4 shows

cost much less, will be an economically rational strate-

the contributions for CP3.7 for two time periods: 2015-

gy particularly for developing countries where PM2.5

2030, and 2030-2050.

levels are relatively high.

For CO2 emission reductions, energy savings (improvement in energy consumption per unit of electricity

2. 5. Summary

generation) contribute to emission reductions as a cost

The correlation between climate change mitiga-

efficient measure at first. Following energy savings,

tion and air pollution control was analyzed by using afuel switching (disaggregated into improvement in en-

global energy systems model, explicitly modelling SO2

ergy consumption and gross emission per energy con-and NO2 emission reduction technologies for fossil fuelsumption) and CCS (improvement in net emission per

power plant.

gross emission) are introduced for achieving deeper

Climate change mitigation on PM2.5 reduction

CO2 emission reduction. On the other hand, deploy-

generates co-benefits through energy savings and fuelment of end-of-pipe type technologies (improvement inswitching. However, these measures are not necessar-

net emission per gross emission) are major response

ily least-cost measures to reduce PM2.5.

17

R&D Activities◦Systems Analysis GroupIf the benefits of PM2.5 reductions are larger thanclimate change mitigation benefits, SO2 and NO2 emis-

RITE

Today

201７

of coal power plant (w/ CCS) is five years, and that ofgas power plant (w/ CCS) is three years.

sions reductions with cheaper costs such as the end-

✓ The firm’s objective function is the expected totalof-pipe technologies for SO2 and NO2 reductions will

cost of base load power supply to be minimized incontribute to effective risk reductions.

the period of 40 years, i.e., from t=0 to t=40.
Table 4. : Assumed parameters

3. Analysis of CO2 capture and storage investment
based on real options approach

Aged coal
power plant

3. 1. Introduction
CO2 capture and storage (CCS) technology is recognized as an effective technology for deep CO2 emission reductions. For CCS diffusions, circumstancesthat enable firms to invest in CCS are needed.
There are some obstacles to overcome for firms’

New coal power
plant: USC

New gas power plant:
combined cycle

w/o CO2
capturew/ CO2
capturew/o CO2
capturew/ CO2
capture

32.9

41.1

34.0

56.8

48.8

Capital cost
(US2007$/kWnet)

-

2,719

5,005

1,549

2,926

Lead time (y)

-

5

5

3

3

Net thermal
efficiency (%,LHV basis)

investing in CCS, and this study focused on uncertain-

The assumed costs of CO2 transport and storageties and volatilities of LNG and carbon prices as obsta-

are 23.3 US2007$/tCO2 transported, and 24.8 US2007$/

cles. We analyzed cost-efficient decision-making be-tCO2 stored, respectively.

havior, such as whether to invest in CCS immediately

LNG and carbon prices follow the geometricor to wait and keep the investment options under un-

Brownian motion. Figure 5 illustrates the expected car-certainties of LNG and carbon prices based on realbon price (initial value: 30 US2007$/tCO2) and its sample

options approach. Real options approach, which waspaths. The volatility of LNG is assumed to be 0.24

originally developed in the field of finance, is applied tobased on the Japanese LNG CIF price. The volatility ofan analysis on real assets in this study.

carbon price is assumed to be 0.29 based on carbon

We considered the case of a firm having an aged

price in the EU ETS. In general, the volatility of crude

coal power plant. The firm can select the power plant

oil price was a level from 0.3 to 0.4 in the past few de-type and investment timing. The firm’s “waiting” means

cades.

keeping options open and utilizing the aged coal power
plant. In contrast, the firm’s investment in coal power
plant w/ CCS, for example, doesn’t allow canceling theinvestment decision afterwards even if the carbon pricedecreases substantially. In this way, considering flexibility and irreversibility of decision-making is one ofcharacteristics of real options approach.
CCS has another uncertainty, e.g., injectivity (injection rate in CO2 storage site) and capacity factor of
CCS systems which may be affected by authorizationand local agreement. However, this study doesn’t cover these uncertainties due to the difficulty of parameterization.
Figure 5. : Expected carbon price and its sample paths

3. 2. Analysis framework
This study targets the firm as following:18

3. 3. Simulation results✓ The firm owns and operates the aged coal power

The least cost decision-making over 40 years (t=0plant, and the maximum remaining lifetime of theto 40 years) was solved by numerical calculations. Fig-

plant is ten years. The firm has to replace the planture 6 shows economically rational investment deci-

within ten years.

sions, at the time from t=0 (starting time point of deci-✓ There are four options for the replacement. Parame-

sion making for power plant selection/investment), toters of power plant are shown in Table 4. Lead time

t=7 (last time point of decision making). The Figure

R&D Activities◦Systems Analysis Group

RITE

Today

201７

covers a wide range of LNG and carbon prices, and theJapanese LNG CIF prices were 16.2 US2007$/GJLHV in
2012, and 9.7 US2007$/GJLHV in 2015, respectively.
We show the results in inverse order of time. In the
t=7, the firm has to select gas power plant w/o CCS or

t=7(point of

w/ CCS, since the remaining life of the aged coal pow-

time:

er plant is three years in the t=7, and the assumed lead

year)

time of gas power plant is also three years.
In the t=6, the firm has some options: wait and invest in gas power plant. At the upper left in the Figure,investment in gas power plant w/ CCS is the least costchoice.
The t=5 is the last time to select coal power plant.
At the upper right in the Figure, investment in coal power plant w/ CCS is the least cost choice.
In the t=0, the area for the option of “waiting” isrelatively large, which means that expected cost of
keeping options open is lower than the expected costof “investing right now.” In other word, delaying invest-

t=6(point of
time:
year)

ment decision is more cost-effective, because the conditions of prices are clearer at a later point of time. The
simulation results suggest that one should not expect
CCS diffusions in the short-term under the assumed
uncertainties.
3. 4. Summary
This study analyzed a case that the firm cost-efficiently selects power plant type and its timing under
uncertainties of LNG and carbon prices. The simulation
results reveal that the area for the option of “waiting” isrelatively large, which means that one should not ex-

t=5(point of
time:
year)

pect CCS diffusions in the short-term. We reconfirm
that a low volatility of carbon price, however, narrows
the area for the option of “waiting.” In addition to thelevel of carbon price, predictability and stability of carbon price are important for CCS investment. This suggestion could apply to other mitigation technologies
that have a long lead time.
t=0(point of
time:
year)

Figure 6. : Least cost threshold of investment and wait
Note: The both axes indicate prices at the point of time.

19

R&D Activities◦Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology Group

RITE

Today

201７

Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology Group[Key Members]

Masayuki Inui
Group Leader,
Chief Researcher

Akemi Sasaki, Deputy Group Leader,
Associate Chief Researcher
Ken-ichi Inatomi, Associate Chief
Researcher
Haruhiko Teramoto, Associate Chief
Researcher
Toru Jojima, Associate Chief Researcher
Kazumi Hiraga, Associate Chief Researcher
Yuya Tanaka, Senior Researcher
Masako Suda, Senior Researcher
Yukihiro Kitade, Senior Researcher
Koichi Toyoda, Senior Researcher

Naoto Kato, Senior Researcher
Satoshi Hasegawa, Senior Researcher
Akira Watanabe, Senior Researcher
Takahisa Kogure, Senior Researcher
Hiroshi Kosugi, Senior Researcher
Takeshi Kubota, Senior Researcher
Shinichi Oide, Researcher
Naoki Saruya, Researcher
Ryoma Hashimoto, Researcher
Junya Ishida, Researcher
Tetsu Shimizu, Researcher

Technology Development of Biofuels & Green Chemicals for the
Realization of a Biorefinery Society
1. Introduction

U.S. as a main raw material, and Europe is the largest

Our group is advancing the research and development of biorefinery technologies to produce biofuelsconsuming region where more than 50% of automobiles with diesel engines exist.

and green chemicals from non-food biomass (Fig. 1).

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

In this section, we provide an overview of the global

has been putting effort into promoting the use of biofu-

biofuel production and green chemical production.

els. Last November, the EPA set the target for the 2017

Fig. 1 : Concept of a Biorefinery
Fig. 2 : Prospects for global bioethanol production

Biofuels
Biofuels such as bioethanol and biodiesel, are fu-

annual renewable fuel consumption at 19.3 billion gal-els that are produced from biomass, which is a renew-

lons (73 million kL), which increased over 6% last year.

able resource. According to the OECD-FAO report, theOf this amount, cellulosic bioethanol (second genera-

global production of biofuels has been increasing intion biofuel) accounts for 0.31 billion gallons (1.2 mil-2015, and 116 million kL and 31 million kL, respective-

lion kL). Because cellulosic biofuels are produced fromly, were estimated to be produced in the world (Fig. 2).

agricultural waste, such as corn stover, their produc-

Bioethanol is produced from corn in the U.S. or fromtion does not affect the food supply, which is expectedsugarcane in Brazil as a main raw material, and it ismixed with gasoline for use in automobiles. The largest
production and consumption of bioethanol was in the
U.S., where 14.5 billion gallons (55 million kL) of
bioethanol was produced last year. Biodiesel is produced from rape seed in Europe or from soybean in the20

to reduce the large CO2 emission. Five large-scalecommercial plants that have an approximate 100,000
kL capacity for cellulosic ethanol production per year
are in operation in the U.S., in Brazil, and in Europe(Italy).
Regarding biojet fuels, the aim in technological

R&D Activities◦Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology Group

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development for the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020
has become a topic in Japan. Meanwhile, more than
60 countries have agreed to introduce regulations on
CO2 emissions on international routes among their airlines that belong to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO, http://www.icao.int/). According to
the agreement, international airlines must buy eligible
CO2 emissions units through a carbon market. Therefore, it is expected to accelerate the utilization andtechnology development of biojet fuels in our country.
In addition, the world’s first commercial flight using cellulosic renewable jet fuel was carried out in the U.S. A
start-up company converted cellulosic sugars thatwere derived from wood waste into renewable isobutanol, and were further converted into jet fuel. It was
mixed with petroleum-based jet fuel (20%) (http://www.
gevo.com/).
Green chemicals
Like biofuels, markets for green chemicals, including biomaterials and biopolymers, are expanding in theworld. Last year, global bioplastics production was predicted to be 2.1 million tons (http://www.european-bioplastics.org/), and the domestic shipment volume of
bioplastics was estimated to be ca.0.32 million tons
(http://www.env.go.jp/). The consumption of biodegradable poly (lactic acid)(PLA), bio-polyethylene terephthalate (Bio-PET), bio-polyethylene (Bio-PE), etc. isincreasing in Japan, and the market in Asia is expanding with the increasing production in China and East
Asia. Bioplastics, which have improved physicochemical properties, are also in use, for example, a heat-resistant polylactic acid is used for textile fibers and films,
and a high-impact polyamide with enhanced chemical

Fig. 3 : Features of the RITE Bioprocess

strain are engineered to have an optimal metabolic
pathway for a particular target chemical and are grown
on a large scale, packed to very high densities in a reactor, and allowed to produce the target metabolite under anaerobic conditions (Fig. 3). The key to this process is the unique property of C. glutamicum mentioned
above. The bioconversion of feedstocks to target products proceeds without microbial cell growth, achieving
a higher efficiency and productivity compared to conventional fermentative processes in which the formation of products and biomass inevitably occurs in parallel. Metabolic engineering enabled our microbial
catalyst to utilize C6 and C5 sugars simultaneously,
and we found that C. glutamicum is highly tolerant tofermentation inhibitors such as furans, that are included in cellulosic hydrolysates, demonstrating that the
RITE Bioprocess is compatible with cellulosic non-foodbiomass (see RITE Today, 2013-2014).
Through the RITE Bioprocess, we produced ethanol, lactic acids, and various amino acids with remarkably high yields. We are currently applying the technology to the microbial production of butanol, biojet fuels,
and aromatic compounds such as phenol. In the fol-

resistance is used for automobile parts.

lowing sections, we describe our recent research prog-

2. Features of the RITE Bioprocess (Growth-Arrest-tion.

ed Bioprocess)
RITE has developed an efficient biomass utilization technology based on an inherent feature of Corynebacterium glutamicum. Specifically, it retains the
major metabolic pathways that are active, while its
growth is arrested under anaerobic conditions. The“RITE Bioprocess,” the growth-arrested bioprocess wedeveloped, has so far enabled the cost-efficient production of biofuels and green chemicals, and we
gained global recognition for this achievement.
In the RITE Bioprocess, cells of a C. glutamicumress on biofuel production and green chemical produc-

3. Research and development on biofuels production
3.1. Biobutanol
Butanol is more suitable as a gasoline additive
than ethanol due to its physicochemical properties, including lower water solubility, higher energy content
and lower oxygen content, and it can be a starting material for biojet fuel production via conventional chemical reactions. The biojet fuel synthesized from alcohols
is often referred to as “alcohol to jet” or “ATJ.” In 2016,21

R&D Activities◦Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology Group

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Fig. 5 : A hybrid microbe for the production of a 100% green jet fuelpossible solution to reduce CO2 emissions from theFig. 4 : Production of biobutanol and biojet fuel via the RITE Bioprocessaviation sector.

ATJ has been approved by ASTM and is ready for use

Petroleum-based jet fuels are mixtures of hydro-

for commercial flights (http://www.gevo.com/). Be-

carbons that consist mainly of linear, cyclic, andcause of the recent increase in social needs for tack-branched acyclic saturated hydrocarbons with 10-15

ling global climate change, airline companies havecarbon atoms and aromatic compounds. The jet fuelpaid great attention to biojet fuel.

must possess physical properties that are favorable for

We have developed a genetically engineered Co-

aviation fuels such as low freezing and flash points. In

rynebacterium strain that exhibits a very high produc-

contrast to petroleum-based jet fuel, biofuels produced

tivity of butanol. When the strain is used in the RITE

from biomass lack aromatic compounds; therefore,

Bioprocess, non-food biomass is efficiently converted

they are mixed with the petroleum-based jet fuels at up

to butanol (Fig. 4). The advantages of our production

to 50%. With the support of the New Energy and Indus-

process include i) a high yield of butanol from lignocel-

trial Technology Development Organization (NEDO),

lulosic biomass and ii) a high volumetric productivity

we have been working on a project to produce various

compared to other processes.

types of hydrocarbons that are required for jet fuels,

We have conducted a research project on cellu-

including aromatic compounds, from biomass. The

losic butanol production since 2015 (see Topics ingoal of the project is to establish a production process

RITE Today, 2016), which has been funded by the Min-for biojet (100% green jet) fuel that can totally replace

istry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). One ofpetroleum-based jet fuel.

the main goals of the project is to further improve the

Our strategy is to provide or express catalyst ac-

cellulosic butanol productivity of our process by ame-

tivity in a microbial cell in which an organocatalyst re-liorating the microbial biocatalyst with cutting-edge

action occurs. The organocatalyst reaction has neverbreeding technologies. The second goal is to establish

been observed in microbial cells (Fig. 5). The microbea bioprocess to convert cellulosic hydrolysates that arecontaining the organocatalyst activity is able to pro-derived from non-food biomass to butanol in an eco-duce an array of hydrocarbons, and it is possible tonomical and efficient manner by collaborating with themake a 100% green jet fuel using this cell (hybrid mi-

U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

crobe cell). In contrast to conventional biojet fuels, fur-expert on lignocellulose saccharification. Last year, wether processes, such as polymerization and isomeriza-

succeeded in developing a transgenic strain that at-tion of fermentative products, are unnecessary for thistains the highest butanol yield from non-food biomass,

green jet fuel. Therefore, this process is advantageous

and we continue to improve our process performance

regarding the manufacturing cost compared to that of

toward commercialization.

other conventional biojet processes. Our strategy
seems to be applicable to the production of various

3.2. Green jet fuelCO2 emission from the aviation sector accounts
for approximately 2% of the global CO2 emission

never been achieved. Last year, we successfully
demonstrated the production of precursor molecules ofthrough human activities and will be further increased

our green jet fuel using a metabolically engineered Co-

due to the rising demand for aviation in developing

rynebacterium strain that we developed. We are cur-countries in the future. In addition to improvements inrently attempting to improve the productivity of our pro-the fuel efficiency of aircrafts and efficient flight opera-

cess to realize its industrialization.

tions, as described in section one, biojet fuel is one

22

chemicals whose production through a bioprocess has

R&D Activities◦Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology Group

3.3. Biohydrogen
Hydrogen is considered the ultimate clean energy

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cally engineered microbes are being developed foreach process in our laboratory.

because it is abundant on the Earth and because its
combustion only generates water. However, CO2 emission during the existing hydrogen production processes is one of the important issues because fossil re-4. 
Development of manufacturing bioprocess for
useful chemicals
4.1. Biomass-based phenol

sources are used as the feedstock. This issue should

Phenol is an essential material for the production

be addressed by a mid- or long-term R&D project onof phenolic resin, epoxy resin, polycarbonate, and oth-hydrogen production technologies using renewable

er polymers that are typically used in automotive partsand sustainable resources. In this context, METI has

and electronic materials. The domestic and global mar-

set the goal of establishing a CO2-free hydrogen sup-kets are quite huge, and their further increase is ex-

ply chain by 2040 in a long-term technology roadmap.

pected. However, commercial phenol is only derived

Although bioprocesses have significant potentialfrom petroleum using organic solvents and strong ac-

for CO2-free hydrogen production, an innovative im-

ids at a high temperature and pressure (~250 °C, 30

provement in the technology is necessary to establish

MPa).

a cost-efficient biohydrogen process. In collaboration

We have been challenged to develop the world’s

with the SHARP Corporation, our group has developed

first manufacturing bioprocess of biomass-based phe-a biohydrogen production process that uses a reactor

nol, which is considered to be difficult, for global envi-that is densely packed with a microbial catalyst, andronmental conservation and greenhouse gas reduc-the volumetric production rate achieved is two orders

tion. As a result, we succeeded in developing aof magnitude higher than that of conventional fermen-“two-stage bioprocess” for biomass-based green phe-tation processes. Since 2015, a new bio-hydrogennol production (Fig. 7), and it enabled higher phenol

project supported by METI has proceeded with NREL,

titers compared to the published data (see RITE Today,

in which a biohydrogen production process from non-2016). The energy consumption of green phenol pro-food cellulosic biomass is being developed to improve

duction is estimated to decrease to ca. 70% in crude oil

the hydrogen yield from feedstock (Fig. 6, and see

equivalent and CO2 emission, compared to the current

RITE Today, 2016).

production from petroleum. An improvement in the Corynebacterium strain for high phenol concentration production, waste water recycling, etc. are now on being
considered for industrialization.

Fig. 6 : Two-stage fermentative process for hydrogen production

In Fig. 6, the fermentative hydrogen production isdivided into “dark fermentation” and “photo fermentation.” The latter uses light energy, but the former does

Fig. 7 : Comparison of the current phenol production process
and the new bioprocess

4.2. Application of the technology to various aro-

not. The integration of these two processes will signifi-

matic compounds

cantly improve the hydrogen yield from biomass feed-

As mentioned above, we succeeded in developing

stock. In the two-step process, a by-product (acetate)

the world’s first manufacturing bioprocess for bio-

generated in the dark fermentative hydrogen produc-mass-based phenol. The manufacturing method hastion process is used as a substrate for the next pho-significant potential for expansion and can be applica-

to-fermentative process. Currently, improved geneti-

ble for the production of various aromatic compounds,

23

R&D Activities◦Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology Groupe.g., the production of high-value substances, such as
raw materials for polymers, pharmaceutical intermediates, agrochemicals, flavors, cosmetics, etc.

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(Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 87: 159–165).
The Green Earth Institute Co., Ltd. (GEI) is a setup company that will commercialize the RITE Biopro-

A new project on the “smart cell”, an information

cess (for more information, see RITE Today, 2012).

analysis technology based on integrated OMICS anal-

Since 2011, RITE and GEI started collaborative re-ysis, which is funded by NEDO, is being developed forsearch for amino acid production using the RITE Bio-

the production of various aromatic compounds underprocess in which technologies for scaling up, develop-

optimized conditions (see Topics). OMICS refers to ge-ment of efficient production strains, and cost reduction

nomics, proteomics or metabolomics.

have been developed. Our first target for amino acid

Furthermore, based on the results obtained in the

production was synthesized from a petrochemical

project, the creation of high-performance “smart cells”

product, but we want to produce the amino acid fromand their use for the technology development of green

renewable resources to reduce the life cycle carbon

chemical production is expected to provide a method

footprint. In 2016, we succeeded in demonstrating thefor the effective production of high-value aromatic com-

production by using commercial-scale facilities of ourpounds and their new applications (Fig. 8).

partner company (Fig. 9), which is an important milestone for industrialization. One of our group members
also participated in the first operation and worked withlocal employees to lead the project to a successful
conclusion. We continue to make great efforts to reportfull-scale commercial production in the next year.

Fig. 8 : Development of manufacturing cells for various aromatic compounds

Towards the industrialization of our technolo5. 
gies
5.1. Amino acids
Normally, amino acid fermentation is carried out
under aerobic conditions and, consequently, aeration
and agitation should be properly controlled to attainhigh productivity, but it is often difficult in large-scale
fermenters because the oxygen concentration is inho-

5.2. Phenol

mogeneous inside the fermenters. To overcome thisIn May 2014, Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd. andproblem, we have developed a new genetically modi-

RITE established Green Phenol Development Co., Ltd.

fied Corynebacterium strain for amino acid production(GPD) to accelerate the industrialization of our bio-in the RITE Bioprocess where the production of amino

mass-based phenol-producing technology using theacid is carried out under anaerobic conditions. The“two-stage bioprocess” as mentioned above.

technological hurdle for amino acid production underAccording to the NEDO project, “Development ofanaerobic conditions is to balance the redox reaction

manufacturing process for biomass-based phenol

without oxygen as an electron acceptor. To this end, we(2015~2017),” additional purification and concentration

introduced an artificial pathway for amino acid biosyn-

processes were constructed near the bioprocess pilot

thesis in microbial cells. Our group has solved theplant in June 2016 at the Shizuoka Plant at Sumitomotechnological hurdle and published the research ac-

Bakelite Co., Ltd.

complishments in an international journal in 201024

Fig. 9 : Display of amino acid samples in BioJapan, 2016 (see topics)

This enables the integrated production of bio-

R&D Activities◦Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology Group

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mass-based phenol from non-food biomass-derived

U.S. corn-based bioethanol production will hold steady

mixed sugars. The next hurdles are as follows: supply

at approximately 15 billion gallons (57 million kL),of low-cost biomass-derived sugars, improvement of

which is as high as that of the last year (Fig. 10). How-the processes, such as the bioprocess, purification,

ever, the low oil prices also boost the advantage ofand concentration of phenol, recycling of waste water,

green chemical production; but, it is necessary to makeetc. These processes are now in the process of indus-

efforts toward low-cost production because the pricetrialization.

competitiveness of commodity chemicals that are
made from shale gas/oil also continues to be high.

6. Closing remarks

Our group continues our efforts to develop tech-

The global grain production in 2016 was blessed

nologies to produce the next generation of biofuels,with both good weather and little crop damage from

including cellulosic ethanol, butanol, hydrogen, anddroughts, resulting in corn and wheat having the best

green jet fuels. We also promote R&D that aims at effi-

past production volumes. Moreover, corn price fell tocient production of highly functional chemicals by using$3+ per bushel (ca. 25.4 kg), and crude oil prices haveadvanced biotechnology, such as the NEDO’s “smart

held steady at approximately $50 per barrel in the U.S.

cell” project, as mentioned above. Through our re-

Therefore, the bioethanol production cost has also de-search activities, we would like to contribute to environ-creased. In addition, gasoline demand is predicted tomental protection and help establish a sustainable so-stay stable this year; therefore, it is estimated that theciety.

Fig. 10 : U.S. bioethanol price (2005-2016)25

R&D Activities◦Chemical Research Group

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Chemical Research Group[Key Members]

Shin-ichi Nakao
Group Leader,
Chief Researcher

Yoshinobu Sato,
Deputy Group Leader, Chief Researcher
Takayuki Higashii, Chief Researcher
Katsunori Yogo, Associate Chief Researcher
Kenjiro Ishiguro, Senior Researcher
Teruhiko Kai, Senior Researcher
Tsuguhiro Kato, Senior Researcher
Kazuya Goto, Senior Researcher
Firoz Alam Chowdhury, Senior Researcher
Satoshi Mikami, Senior Researcher
Hidetaka Yamada, Senior Researcher

Shin Yamamoto, Senior Researcher
Makoto Ryoji, Senior Researcher
Fuminori Ito, Researcher
Koji Kida, Researcher
Shuhong Duan, Researcher
Ryohei Numaguchi, Researcher
Junpei Fujiki, Researcher

Challenges Associated with the Advanced Industrialization of CO2
Capture Technologies
1. Technologies for CO2 capture

under evaluation for practical use. In lab-scale cyclic

CO2 capture and storage (CCS) involves the trap-

tests, our novel solid sorbent is capable of achieving

ping of CO2 (a greenhouse gas) from emissions gener-

1.5 GJ/t-CO2 for regeneration energy. Research on theated during fossil fuel combustion by sources such aspractical application is now underway in collaborationelectric power plants and factories, and the subse-

with a private company.

quent sequestration of the captured CO2 in geological

Membrane separation represents an effective

formations. At present, the costs associated with cap-means of separating high-pressure gas mixtures. As

turing CO2 from emission sources are estimated to ac-such, the Group is currently developing molecular gate

count for approximately 60% of overall CCS expendi-

membrane modules to selectively capture CO2 fromtures. Therefore, it is important to reduce capture costs

pressurized gas mixtures containing H2, such as thoseto allow the practical application of CCS.

generated in the integrated coal gasification combined

The Chemical Research Group studies various

cycle (IGCC), with a cost target of 1500 JPY/t-CO2.

CO2 capture technologies, with a special focus on

This work has resulted in a novel dendrimer/poly-chemical absorption, solid adsorption and membrane

mer hybrid membrane that exhibits excellent CO2/H2

separation methods. This work has involved the devel-

separation capability. As a member of the Molecularopment of new materials and processing methods as

Gate Membrane module Technology Research Associ-well as investigations of capture systems. The Group’s

ation, RITE is developing these membranes along withstudies have thus far generated significant outcomesmembrane modules and separation systems for practi-

and assisted in the progress of research in this partic-

cal applications. Recently, we succeeded in achieving

ular field.

specific project targets under high-pressure conditions

Specifically, we have developed chemical absor-(2.4 MPa), using laboratory-scale membranes com-bents that allow CO2 capture at an energy consump-posed of modified materials. We are also currently de-tion rate of 2.0 GJ/t-CO2, and release the trapped CO2veloping the membrane elements. We plan to develop

at temperatures below 100 ºC. One such chemical ab-the membrane module systems by examining the sep-sorbent with particular promise was selected for appli-aration performance and robustness of these mem-

cation in a commercial CO2 capture plant owned by abrane elements in pre-combustion CO2 capture tests.

private Japanese company.
On the solid sorbent technology, we have been
also developing sorbents for CO2 capture to efficiently

26

2. Development of CO2 capture technology basedon chemical absorption systems

reduce energy consumption. Currently, the low-tem-

CO2 capture by chemical absorption is a prospec-

perature regenerable solid sorbent we developed istive technology for the separation of CO2 from gas mix-

R&D Activities◦Chemical Research Group

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tures. This technique consists of the thermal desorp-

One of these outstanding new absorbents was ad-tion of CO2 following chemical absorption by an

opted for use in commercial CCS plants operated byamine-based solution. Chemical absorption allows the

Nippon Steel & Sumikin Engineering Co., Ltd. The first

separation of CO2 from ambient pressure gas mixtures

such CCS plant began operation in the autumn of 2014

on an industrial scale.

and the second CCS plant is scheduled to start opera-

Over the past decade, RITE has researched sev-tion in 2018.

eral highly efficient absorbents that allow CO2 separa-

Beginning in FY 2013, the COURSE 50 Phase 1tion with decreased energy consumption, since energy

Step 2 project funded by NEDO was initiated, intended

costs represent one of the major concerns associatedto run until FY 2017. During this work, RITE and thewith chemical absorption systems.

Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Corporation continue to de-Specifically, between FY 2004 and 2008, thevelop new absorbents that have the potential to deliver

Cost-saving CO2 Capture System (COCS) projecthigh performance and to allow more efficient CO2 cap-

(funded by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Indus-

ture (Fig. 3).

try (METI)) examined the capture and separation of
CO2 from steel industry blast furnace effluent gases.
This work was followed by the CO2 Ultimate Reduction
in Steelmaking Process by Innovative Technology for
Cool Earth 50 (COURSE 50 Phase 1, Step 1) project,running from FY 2008 to 2012 and funded by the New
Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).
These projects achieved the target CO2 capture
energy consumption value of 2.0 GJ/t-CO2. In addition,
significant new absorbents were developed that enable CO2 desorption at less than 100 ºC. This result
represents an improvement over the current desorption temperature of 120ºC (Figs. 1 and 2).

Fig.3 : Continuous development for the high performanceliquid absorbent process

Additionally, we have advanced the developmentof chemical absorbents for high-pressure gas mixturescontaining CO2, obtaining excellent CO2 absorption
and desorption performance. The purpose of thesestudies has been the research of highly efficient absorbents that enable CO2 desorption while maintaining thehigh CO2 partial pressure of the initial gas mixture.

Fig.1 : A cost-saving CO2 capture system scheme

Fig.2 : Snapshots of test equipment

Fig.4 : C O2 pressure-solubility relationships of ″High-Pressure Regenerable Absorbents″

27

R&D Activities◦Chemical Research Group

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These are termed High-Pressure Regenerable Absor-

ect aimed at the advancement of CO2 capture technol-

bents. Using these novel absorbents, the energy con-ogies funded by METI from 2010 to 2014. Based on

sumption during the CO2 compression process follow-

the established relationship between various amine

ing capture is significantly reduced owing to the highstructures and their CO2 desorption capabilities, as de-pressure of the captured CO2.

termined by theoretical simulations, RITE successfully

Several new solvent systems designed previously

fabricated innovative, high-performance solid sorbents

have demonstrated high CO2 recovery levels in con-capable of low-temperature regeneration and having

junction with superior CO2 absorption and desorption

high adsorption capacities.

rates. These capabilities are in addition to a relatively

The characteristics of these solid sorbents were

low heat of reaction under high-pressure conditions

subsequently assessed using a lab-scale adsorption/

above 1 MPa (Fig. 4). The total energy consumption

regeneration test apparatus (Fig. 6). These tests

rate for CO2 separation and capture when using thisdemonstrated that steam-aided vacuum swing adsorp-

process, including the energy required for compres-tion (SA-VSA) significantly enhances the extent of CO2

sion, has been estimated to be less than 1.1 GJ/t-CO2.

recovery compared with the standard VSA process.
Work was also performed to optimize the SA-VSA

3. Solid Sorbent Technology

method. As a result, it was possible to desorb high-pu-

Solid sorbent technology appears promising be-rity (98%) CO2 from the RITE solid sorbent in highcause it takes advantage of the anticipated lower heatyields (93%) following capture from a simulated flue

duty cycle for regeneration processes obtained whengas, at an energy cost of 1.5 GJ/t-CO2 (Fig. 7). It isusing amines supported on porous materials. Theseestimated that employing the RITE solid sorbent of ansystems have exhibited CO2 adsorption characteristics

energy cost of 2.5 GJ/t-CO2 would improve the energy

similar to those of amine-based solvents (Fig. 5).

efficiency of a coal-fired power plant with a CO2 cap-

RITE has developed solid sorbents during a proj-

ture system by approximately 2%,

Fig.5 : Amine solvents and amine solid sorbents

Fig.6 : Lab-scale apparatus for CO2 capture test

28

Fig.7 : CO2 capture performance using RITE solid sorbent

R&D Activities◦Chemical Research Group

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Solid sorbents are also being researched in thelarge-scale synthesis method, have been assessedworld However, conventional solid sorbents generallyusing bench-scale plant tests since Nov. 2016. As

require the application of high temperatures, which isshown in the R&D road map (Fig. 9.), our goal is todeleterious with regard to both energy consumption

develop a solid sorbent system with improved perfor-

and the stability of the sorbent. In contrast, the RITE

mance during CO2 capture from coal-fired power plants

solid sorbent uniquely allows regeneration at low tem-by 2020.

peratures and thus at a low energy cost.
In 2015, we launched a new project funded by
METI with the goal of demonstrating the practical appli-

4. CO2 and H2 separation using polymeric membranes

cations of CO2 capture technologies (R&D of Advanced

The Japanese government announced the Cool

Solid Sorbents for Commercialization). Currently, lab-

Earth 50 project in May 2007, with the aim of reducing

scale tests using a moving-bed system in conjunction

the country’s CO2 emissions to half of the current

with coal-fired flue gases, as well as simulations ofamount by 2050. One promising means of lowering

moving-bed systems, are proceeding in collaboration

CO2 emissions is the development of an IGCC basedwith Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.

on CO2 capture by selective membranes (Fig. 10). For

Simultaneously, we are optimizing our solid sor-

this reason, we are currently developing molecularbents for the practical applications. The RITE solid sor-gate membrane modules that effectively separate CO2bent uses novel amines that exhibit higher perfor-

during the IGCC process.

mance than standard commercially-available amines.

To date, the results have shown that novel poly-In addition, this material is synthesized using a method

meric membranes composed of dendrimer/polymer

that can readily be scaled up (Fig. 8).

hybrid materials (termed molecular gate membranes)

These new amines, obtained by our improved

Fig.8 : Synthesis of the RITE amine for bench-scale
tests

exhibit excellent CO2/H2 separation performance. Fig.

Fig.9 : R&D Road map of solid sorbent system

Fig. 10 : Schematic of the IGCC process with CO2 capture by CO2 selective membranes.

29

R&D Activities◦Chemical Research Group

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11 presents a schematic that summarizes the working

mance and robustness. As an example, a comparison

principles of a molecular gate membrane. Under hu-of the separation of CO2/He and CO2/N2 mixtures is

midified conditions, CO2 reacts with amino groups inpresented in Fig. 14. In both cases, the CO2 perme-

the membrane to form either carbamate or bicarbonate

ance of the membrane was roughly equivalent. How-

groups, which then block the passage of H2. Conse-

ever, the permeance of N2 was less than that of He

quently, the amount of H2 diffusing to the other side of

because of its larger molecular size. As a result, thethe membrane is greatly reduced and high concentra-

CO2/N2 selectivity was an order of magnitude higher

tions of CO2 can be obtained.

than the CO2/He selectivity, demonstrating that theDuring this project, we have developed new typesof dendrimer/polymer hybrid membranes that provide
superior separation of CO2/H2 gas mixtures.

presence of N2 does not affect the CO2 permeation
properties of the membrane.
In future, we plan to continue to improve these

Based on this work, the Molecular Gate Mem-

membrane module systems by examining the separa-brane module Technology Research Association wastion performance and robustness of these membrane

established in 2011 for the purpose of researching newelements in pre-combustion CO2 capture tests.

membranes, membrane modules and separation sys-

The development of these CO2 molecular gatetems (Fig. 12). Recently, we succeeded in improving

membrane modules is being performed under a project

the separation performance of such membranes

recognized by the Carbon Sequestration Leadership

through the modification of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-

Forum (CSLF), a ministerial-level international climatebased materials. The desired CO2 separation perfor-change initiative focused on the development of im-mance was obtained under high-pressure conditions

proved, cost-effective technologies for the separation(2.4 MPa) using laboratory-scale membranes (Fig. 13).

and capture of CO2 for transport and long-term safe

Currently, we are developing membranes and mem-storage.

brane elements that offer both good separation perfor-

Fig.11 : schematic illustration of the working principles of the molecular gate membrane.

Fig.12 : CO2 molecular gate membranes and membrane elements.

30

Today

R&D Activities◦Chemical Research Group5. Conclusion
In December 2015, the Paris Agreement was ad-

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In general, it is crucial to promote the practical application of CCS by proposing optimized separation

opted at COP 21.* To meet the conditions of the agree-

and recovery technologies for various CO2 emission

ment, it is essential to promote innovative ways of dra-

sources. It is also vital to establish new or improved

matically reducing emissions on a worldwide basis. In

technologies through scale-up studies and actual gas

April 2016, Japan released the National Energy andseparation trials that closely mimic the desired re-Environmental Strategy for Technological Innovation

al-world applications. Furthermore, it is important totoward 2050, and the capture and effective usage ofpromote innovative technological development and to

CO2 were identified as promising technologies. Innova-

continually develop new energy-efficient, low-cost ap-

tive CO2 separation and recovery technologies containproaches to CCS.

medium- and long-term targets related to technologicalimprovements that will reduce the energy used in separation and recovery by half (<1.5 GJ/t-CO2) .

Fig.13 : Separation performance of CO2 molecular gate membranes.
(85°C, Feed gas composition: CO2/He=40/60~5/95%, Feed gas
pressure: 0.1~2.4 MPa, Pemeate gas pressure: atmospheric pressure (Ar sweep))(Membrane area: 1.2 cm2 (Membrane1), 58 cm2 (Membrane2))
He gas was used instead of H2 gas, for safety reason.

The 2015 United Nations Climate Change*COP21; Conference

Fig.14 : C omparison of CO2/He and CO2/N2 Separation performance.
(85°C, Feed gas composition: CO2/He=40/60~5/95%, Feed gas
pressure: 2.4 MPa, Feed gas humidity: 60%RH, Pemeate gaspressure: atmospheric pressure (Ar sweep))31

R&D Activities◦CO Storage Research Group

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CO2 Storage Research Group[Key Members]

Ziqiu XueGroup Leader,
Chief Researcher

Satoru Yamasaki,
Deputy Group Leader, Chief Researcher
Makoto Nomura, Chief Researcher
Nobuo Takasu, Associate Chief Researcher
Masaki Tajima, Associate Chief Researcher
Takahiro Nakajima, Senior Researcher
Keisuke Uchimoto, Senior Researcher
Ryozo Tanaka, Senior Researcher
Saeko Mito, Senior Researcher
Tetsuma Toshioka, Senior Researcher
Tsutomu Hashimoto, Senior Researcher
Tamotsu Kiyama, Senior Researcher
Shigefumi Zokura, Senior Researcher
Hironobu Komaki, Senior Researcher

Makoto Nishimura, Senior Researcher
Jun Kita, Senior Researcher
Osamu Takano, Senior Researcher
Hironori Izumi, Senior Researcher
Yasuhiro Okabayashi, Senior Researcher
Michimasa Magi, Senior Researcher
Yi Zhang, Researcher
Hyuck Park, Researcher
Takuma Ito, Researcher
Takamichi Nakamura, Researcher
Lanlan Jiang, Researcher
Luchen Wang, Researcher

Development of Safety Management Technology for Large-Scale
Geological CO2 Storage
1. Introduction

companies.

Sleipner Project started CO2 injection at the North

RITE is conducting technology development on

Sea in 1996 and stored around 16 million tonnes ofthe safety management of geological CO2 storage; in-CO2 associated with natural gas production in a saline

ternational collaboration and global development sur-aquifer. Following the Quest project in Canada, twovey; and the improvement of social acceptance.

large-scale geological CO2 storage projects will start
CO2 injection in near future: the Industrial CCS (Decatur site) in Illinois, USA and the Gorgon project in Aus-

GCS

tralia. These projects all draw great attention from the

GCS became the contractor of the program of “theviewpoint of their large scale injection of one million

Development of Safety Management Technology fortonnes per year and also their incentives and CCS le-Geological CO2 Storage”, which was launched for a

gal and regulatory frameworks. The North Sea Sleipner

stage of making CCS technically viable, building onsite has successfully injected CO2 without any reports

outcomes from “the Development of Technology forof CO2 leakage and induced seismicity for 20 years

CCS Safety Evaluation”, at the beginning of a fiscal

and has been recognized as a good model of geologi-

year of 2016. The association is undertaking “Develop-

cal CO2 storage in a deep aquifer.

ment on Safety Management Technologies for Large-

For the implementation of geological CO2 storage

scale CO2 Injection and Storage”, “Technologies forat scale, indispensable is up-scaling from pilot-scale

Efficient Pressure Management and Utilization of

injection to large-scale. In up-scaling, various relevant

Large-scale Reservoirs” and “Environment Setting fortechnologies should be verified and integrated, which

CCS Deployment and Standard Development”. The

will lead to cost reduction of CCS projects. With thedetails of research themes and the roles of the mem-aim of technology integration and cost reduction forbers are shown in Table 1.

CO2 storage suitable for Japan's reservoir at a scale of

RITE has conducted pioneering CCS-related re-one million tonnes per year, the Geological CO2 Stor-

search. In GCS, RITE as a core member carries out

age Technology Research Association (GCS) was es-

research and development in collaboration with AIST

tablished on April 1 in 2016 (See the Topics of the CO2

and, building on outcomes from them, works on devel-

Storage Reseach Group). They are undertaking R&D

opment to prove technical feasibility of CCS in con-for CCS implementation by integrating expertise andjunction with the members from the private sector.

know-how owned by the research institutes and the32

2. Major Research Themes and Roles of RITE inR&D Activities◦CO Storage Research Group

RITE

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Table 1 : Research Themes and the Roles of the Members in GCS

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applies it to the Tomakomai demonstration site and potential storage sites under survey.
◇The Development of Fiber-optics-based Monitoring Systems for the Stability of Geological Formations and the integrity of Abandoned Wells
GCS develops and verifies a system to measure
the deformation of formations, changes in subsurface
temperature and pressure continuously with groundburial optical fibers.
◇The Development of a CO2 Leakage Detection
System and an Integrated System for Environmental Impact Assessment
In case of CO2 leak to the surface of the seabed

2.1. The Development of Safety Management Tech-

from, for example, an abandoned well or cap rock,nologies for Geological CO2 Storage

GCS develops leakage detection methodologies and

GCS develops safety management technologies

simulation techniques for CO2 diffusion in seawater. It

for large-scale CO2 injection and storage, including thealso develops an integrated system for environmental

development of geological models, the development of

impact assessment, the core component of which ismethodologies for simulation and long-term prediction

database for the impacts of CO2 on organisms.

of CO2 behavior, and the development of integrity monitoring system with fiber optics and safety management

2.2. The Development of Technologies for the Effi-

system for injection.

cient Pressure Management and Utilization of◇The Development of a Safety Management Sys-

Large-scale Reservoirs

tem for Injection

To develop technologies for efficient pressure

GCS develops a management system to inject

management and utilization of large-scale reservoirs,

CO2 safely, which we call the Advanced Traffic Light

GCS conducts studies on techniques for optimal lay-

System (ATLS). Like a traffic light, ATLS shows red,outs of injection wells and pressure management wells

yellow and green signals, based on observation results

and on enhanced CO2 dissolution techniques using mi-of natural earthquakes and microseismicity associatedcro CO2 bubbles.

with injection and monitoring results of CO2 behavior◇The Development of Techniques for Optimizing aand the marine environment. GCS tests and verifies

Layout of CO2 Injection Wells and Pressure Man-

ATLS’s performance with data from the Tomakomai

agement Wells

site with the aim of rolling it out worldwide as Japan’s

Since large-scale storage sites on the order of one

unique advanced technology.

million tonnes per year have a potential to use multiple◇Geological Modelling and Reservoir Evaluation

injection wells/ pressure management wells for theirfor Large-Scale Reservoirs

complicated geological structure and heterogeneity of

GCS develops evaluation techniques and geolog-

a reservoir, GCS develops a methodology to optimize

ical modelling methodologies for storage potential esti-

the layout and functions of multiple wells, making themation and applies them to the Tomakomai demonstra-

best use of data from, for example, Tomakomai andtion site and potential storage sites under survey.

potential storage sites under survey.

◇The Development of Methodologies for CO2 Behavior Simulation and Long-term Prediction forLarge-scale Reservoirs◇Improvement of Storage Efficiency by Applying
Enhanced CO2 Dissolution Technique
GCS develops enhanced dissolution technology,

GCS develops methodologies for long-term pre-which contributes to higher CO2 dissolution into low-sa-

diction of CO2 behavior in large-scale reservoirs, taking

linity formation water and mitigation of pressure rise in

into account characteristics of geochemical reaction

reservoirs, and improves CO2 storage efficiency by in-specific to reservoirs in Japan, for example low salinity

jecting fine CO2 bubbles into reservoirs. It evaluates

in formation water and richness of reactive minerals. It

the effectiveness of the enhanced dissolution tech-33

R&D Activities◦CO Storage Research Group

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3.1. The Development of Geological ModellingTechniques

2.3. E nvironment Setting for CCS Deployment andIn order to predict the behavior of CO2 injected inStandard Developmenta reservoir, it is essential to develop highly reliable

Considering that it is essential to set up an appro-

geological models which incorporate the heterogeneity

priate environment and to prepare standards for widerof geological formations. Although the geological mod-CCS deployment, GCS develops a safety manage-

elling can utilize techniques that have been developed

ment protocol (IRP), produces best practice manuals,

for oil and gas production, geological CO2 storage usu-

collaborates with overseas organizations, improves

ally have much fewer wells in order to avoid leaks. Un-social acceptance and checks the compatibility of ourder the restriction of less available geological data,

efforts with international standardization.
◇The Development of CO2 Storage Safety Management Protocol (IRP)

CO2 storage requires to understand CO2 storage potential, evaluate injectivity and assess the preventionof CO2 leakage at the surface

Recognizing IRPs contribute to gaining social ac-

The CO2 Storage Research Group is developing a

ceptance, GCS surveys IPRs for overseas sites, inves-technique to develop a geological model by integrating

tigates their functions and then creates an IRP specificas much as available information in a manner of effec-

for Japan.

tively using geological information such as boring◇Production of Best Practice Manuals by Incorpo-

cores and physical logging data acquired at a restrict-rating Data from the Tomakomai Demonstration

ed number of wells. A geological analysis and a meth-and Co-operation with Overseas Organizations

odology for the integration of data regarding reservoir

GCS compiles experiences and expertise fromcharacterization are shown as an example in Figure 1.

large-scale geological CO2 storage projects in Japan

In the figure, the depositional environment analy-

and other countries to complete best practice manuals

sis based on the X-ray CT images and the stratigraphic

as a reference for CCS implementers, covering fromcolumn shows that the reservoir consists of delta front

basic planning to post site closure management.

and pro delta. It also clarifies that the distributions of◇The Improvement of Social Acceptance andpore space sizes, which show there is micro-level het-

Compatibility with International Standardizationerogeneity in the reservoir, affect largely on CO2 injec-

GCS works on the improvement of social accep-

tivity. Assessment of storage performance at a reginal

tance, which is critical for the deployment of geologicalscale requires the use of data from 3D seismic sur-CO2 storage projects. GCS also works on the compat-

veys. Employing a GDI (Geology Driven Integration)

ibility of CCS projects with international standardization through co-operation with overseas organizations
and promotes the improvement and dissemination ofJapan’s CCS technology.
3. Major Outcomes from RITE in FY2016
RITE works on technical challenges in geologicalCO2 storage, including the development of safety management technologies for CO2 injection and storage,
the development of technologies for the efficient injection and utilization of large-scale reservoirs, setting-up
of an environment for CCS deployment and the development of standards. In parallel with research on technical challenges, RITE works on research collaboration with overseas research institutes as part ofinternational co-operation and information gathering
through surveys on CCS developments in the world.

34

Figure 1 : Examples of Data Integration for GeologicalModelling and Analysis for the Assessmentof Heterogeneity

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analytical technique as a case study and combining
geological data acquired by, for example, physical welllogging, and 3D seismic survey data, we developed ageological model with a high reliability for the Nagaokasite. The methodology is applicable for depositional
formation based reservoirs and also for the assessment of CO2 storage potential before injection.
3.2. T he Development of Techniques for the Prediction of Long-term CO2 Behavior
It is essential for large-scale geological CO2 storage to monitor the behavior of CO2 injected in a deep
reservoir and to confirm and predict its stable retention.
As techniques to predict CO2 behavior for large-scalestorage sites, it is required to develop a simulator applicable for large-scale models and a simulator that incorporates geochemical reaction for long-term prediction.
To address these issues, the CO2 Storage Research Group parallelized TOUGHREACT V2.0, which
is a simulator developed by the US Lawrence Berkeley
National Laboratory, and modified the code to incorporate histolysis characteristics. To verify the developed
code and evaluate its performance, we applied it to adetailed geological model (around 100,000 grids) of
the Nagaoka site, which is the only domestic CO2 injection test site. The results of resistivity monitoring showsthat there are two separate plumes of supercritical
CO2, resistivity of which is high, and that dissolved
CO2, resistivity of which is low, exists above and below
the plumes. We successfully reproduced the phenomenon accurately by CO2 behavior simulation (Figure 2).
Our long-term prediction for 1,000 years, taking
geochemical reaction into account, enabled us to understand kinds of minerals that are reacted (dissolved
or produced) and temporal changes in their contribution to CO2 trapping (Figure 3). The calculation can be

Figure 3 : R esults of Mineral Reaction Simulation and Temporal
Changes in Trap Mechanisms

done in a short time by increasing the number of calculators to be parallelized and is therefore applicable tolarge-scale sites.
3.3. The Development of Techniques for Marine Environment Impact Assessment
Geological CO2 storage selects a reservoir capable of storing CO2 stably and has therefore an extremely slight chance of CO2 leak taking place. However, weneed a technology to detect a leakage just in case. Assuming CO2 storage under the seabed near the coastand develops technologies to detect CO2 leakage inseawater. It is said that CO2 leaks from the seabedmostly in the form of gas bubbles and that the bubbles
dissolve into seawater as going upward in seawater
due to buoyancy. Potential leakage detection technologies, therefore, include the techniques of detecting gas
bubbles in seawater and the techniques of detecting
increases in CO2 partial pressure (pCO2) caused by the
dissolution of leaked CO2.
As a technique of detecting gas bubbles in seawater, we examine acoustic probing with a side-scan sonar (SSS). SSS is a tool of acoustic probing that produces a 2D image of color contour to show thedifferences of the intensity of sonic waves that aretransmitted from a transducer and return to it after reflected by an object (Figure 4). The tool is widely usedin the surveys of seabed topography and marine geology. RITE focused on a nature of gas bubbles whichreflect acoustic waves and confirmed that SSS is capable of detecting a gas bubble column generated by re-

Figure 2 : C omparison between CO2 Monitoring Results and CO2
Simulation results

35

R&D Activities◦CO Storage Research Group

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leasing pressurized air at a rate of 20 mL/min from the

A challenge in the use of a technique of detecting

seabed at a water depth of 6 to 7 m. In a fiscal year ofincreases of pCO2 is how to set up a criterion for the

2016, with the aim of checking its practical usability ofjudgement of anomalous values. RITE proposed a cri-the gas bubble detection technique with a SSS, we re-terion that is defined with not only pCO2 but also dis-leased pressurized air and CO2 bubbles separately

solved oxygen saturation (DO). Described here based

from the 30-meter-deep seabed and examined wheth-on data observed in the Osaka Bay are that judging

er or not the distance between the gas bubble releaseanomalous values solely with pCO2 is controversial

point and a survey line (the offset, Figure 4) results inand that the problem is improvable by using DO. In the

differences in the images of gas bubbles. The sea

Osaka Bay, fixed-point observation has been conduct-

depth of the release point is as deep as offshore Toma-ed in February, May, August and November every year,

komai, where the subseabed storage demonstration

showing that pCO2 and DO have a clear inverse cor-

project is taking place. In the case of pressurized air,relation (Figure 6). The RITE original methodology is towhen the offset is 20 m and 10 m, a gas bubble column

determine a linear regression of pCO2 and DO as astanding from near the seabed is recognized whereas

criterion for the judgement of anomalous values. If awhen the offset is 0 m and 2 m, gas bubbles are recog-

criterion is determined only with pCO2 (e.g. the black

nized at a water depth of 5 to 20 m (Figure 5a). In thedotted line in Figure 6), there is possibility to judge highcase of CO2, when the offset is 10 m, air bubbles are

pCO2 values in natural fluctuation (① in Figure 6) asrecognized at a water depth of 5 to 15 m, whereas theanomalous in an oxygen-poor environment and tooffset is 0 m and 2 m, gas bubbles are recognizedjudge high pCO2 values which significantly exceed aaround a depth of 5 m (Figure 5b). These results clarify

natural fluctuation range (② in Figure 6) as normal val-that in the both case of pressurized air or CO2, an offset

ues in an oxygen-rich environment. These problems

distance influences a location of bubbles in an SSS

are significantly remedied by employing the upper limit

image (i.e. a water depth). In acoustic probing in a realof a prediction interval of a regression line (e.g. theoperation, we will define multiple survey lines in paral-

green bold dotted line in Figure 6). But it is still un-

lel and therefore we can expect to be able to identify an

avoidable that part of natural variation data are misin-

approximate location of a leak point with locations ofterpreted as anomalous values at a constant rate. As

gas bubbles in multiple SSS images. In this test, theseen in Figure 6, which is drawn only with natural fluc-intensities in the images in the case of CO2 were lower

tuation data, there are a couple of data above thethan those for pressurized air (Figure 5), although thegreen bold dotted line. Looking at the data acquired inrelease rate of CO2 was 10 times that of pressurized

August (blue dots), we can see that they are scatted inair. This can be interpreted that CO2 bubbles that werea range from 400 to 1,800μatm, indicating that they are

released from the seabed went upward, dissolving into

significantly varied year by year. These facts indicate

seawater, becoming smaller in size and losing reflec-that it is required to use data acquired at least for ation intensity. These results lead to a conclusion that

couple of years in setting a criterion for the judgement

there are differences between SSS-produced imagesof anomalous values.

for pressurized air and those for CO2.
4. Survey of Developments in CCS and Co-operation with International Organizations
RITE contributes to accelerating CCS deployment
through co-operation with international organizations
and monitors major CCS-related developments in theworld. Summarized below are major developments in
the global CCS community in 2016 and topics in the
Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF), aninternational body to which RITE contributes and hosted a meeting in Tokyo in October 2016.

Figure 4 : A Conceptual Figure of Gas Bubbles Signals and theirLocation in Side-scanner Sonner Images36

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for enhance oil recovery. The plant employs not a blast
furnace but a direct reduction process, for which CO2
capture is relatively easy.
The ROAD project in the Netherlands, with an announcement of support from the Government in December 2016, is expected to make the final investment
decision in 2017. The large-scale CCS projects coming
online in 2017 include industrial CCS projects such as
Illinois industrial in the USA and Gorgon in Australia
Figure 5 : Side-scan Sonner Images obtained in the Testand also coal-fired power CCS projects such as Petra
Nova and Kemper in the USA. A year of 2017 will be agreat step for the CCS community.
4.2. CSLF Update
CSLF’s 2016 annual meeting was hosted by RITE
together with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) in Tokyo in October. In the meeting, theTomakomai CCS Demonstration Project was recog-

Figure 6 : A Distribution Map of Dissolved Oxygen Saturation (DO)and CO2 Partial Pressure (pCO2)
The black dotted line is the average + three-fold standard deviation. The green line and the green dotted line are the regression
line and its 99% prediction interval. ① and ② are referred in the
body text.

4.1. Major CCS Developments in 2016
A year of 2016 is a milestone for CCS to celebrate
the 20th anniversary of CO2 injection into a deep saline
aquifer in the world first commercial-scale CCS projectin Sleipner, Norway. The project had stored more than
16 million metric tons of CO2 safely by 2016 and is agood example to demonstrate the safety of CCS technologies.
In Norway, there has also been a CCS project forthree industrial plants under study. The results of its
feasibility study were published in summer 2016 and it
was decided to go to a next step for a detailed study
with support of the Government. The captured CO2
would be transported to a floating intermediate storage
facility by ship and then be injected into an offshore
saline aquifer via a pipeline. If the final invest decision
due in spring 2019 is made positively, the project isslated to be operational in 2022.
The large-scale CCS project which became operational in 2016 is the world first one in the steel sector.
This is to capture 800,000 metric tons of CO2 from asteel plant in the United Arab Emirates and to use them

nized as a project that contributes to the deployment
and advancement of CCS. The Tomakomai project became Japan’s second CSLF recognized project, following a project to develop membrane separation technology in RITE.
In the Technical Group, three taskforces havebeen in active since autumn in 2015 with a target of
publishing a report before the ministerial meeting in autumn in 2017: effective use of pore space in reservoirs,offshore EOR and bio-CCS. In addition, it was agreed
in the Tokyo meeting to initiate a taskforce on industrial
CCS with the focus on CO2 use. Proposed by Japan, it
was also agreed to consider forming a joint taskforce
with the Policy Group to look into a reasonable regulations for CCS.
In the Policy Group, the membership of Czech
was discussed and approved in the Tokyo meeting.
The country has great interest in CCS with high coalproduction and high dependence on coal-fired power
generation. With Czech joining CSLF, the number ofmembership became 26, including the European Commission. As part of activities undertaken by a PolicyGroup taskforce called “Communications”, which is to
advocate CCS, the CSLF website was refurbished before the Tokyo meeting to be an information source
useful even for those who are not involved in CSLF.

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R&D Activities◦Inorganic Membranes Research Center

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Inorganic Membranes Research Center[Key Members]
Ryoichi Nishida, Deputy Director, Chief
Researcher
Hidetoshi Kita, Chief Researcher
Hitoshi Nishino, Associate Chief Researcher
Katsunori Yogo, Associate Chief Researcher
Hidetaka Yamada, Senior Researcher
Makoto Ryoji, Senior Researcher
Koji Kida, Researcher
Hajime Nakano, Researcher

Ryohei Numaguchi, Researcher
Kunio Sakuyama, Concurrently with
Research & Coordination GroupShin-ichi Nakao
Director,
Chief Researcher

Research and Development on Innovative Environmental and Energy
Technologies that Use Inorganic Membranes, and Efforts toward their
Practical Use and Industrialization
1. Outline of the Inorganic Membranes ResearchCenterof these membranes is still limited. Recently, research

In April 2016, the Inorganic Membranes Researchin China and other countries has been rapidly catching

Center (IMeRC) was established as a new research

up with that in Japan, and it is thus imperative for us toorganization of RITE. The IMeRC conducts research

further advance R & D and proactively engage in theand development (R & D) on innovative environmental

practical application and industrialization of inorganicand energy technologies that use inorganic mem-

membranes.

branes, aiming to put them into practical and industrialuse.

In this context, the IMeRC is promoting activities
that exploit Japanese knowledge for the following pur-

Membrane separation is one of a number of sepa-

poses:

ration techniques, which also include distillation anda) To promote the R & D of inorganic membranes andadsorption methods. Reverse osmosis and precision

put innovative environmental and energy technolo-

filtration membranes have been used for seawater de-gies into practical use.

salination, and water treatment with organic polymerb) To present a pathway for establishing an inorganic

membranes has also been carried out. In recent years,

membrane industry in Japan with cooperation fromthe application of membrane separation to gas separa-industry and academia;tion (including vapor separation) has also been pro-c) To trust government-financed projects and to en-

moted. Because of their remarkably low energy con-courage collaborative or contract research with co-sumption, membrane separation technologies areoperation from private enterprises, manufacturers,

expected to innovate production processes.

and user companies;

Membrane separation methods that use inorganicd) To transfer technologies from leading experts in var-membranes, such as silica, palladium, and zeolite

ious inorganic membrane fields to mid-level andmembranes, have received particular attention be-

young researchers.

cause their superior heat and environmental resistance

The IMeRC has two divisions, the “Research Sec-means that they can be applied in a wide range oftion”, which promotes R & D on environmental and en-

fields. In addition, they show promising separation per-ergy technologies that use inorganic membranes, andformances that overcome the trade-off between selec-

the “Industry Collaboration Section”, which aims for thetivity and transmittance, or processing speed.

practical application and industrialization of these

Although the research field began in Europe, Japan is currently leading the world in the R & D of inor-

38

ganic membranes; however, the practical application

membranes (Figure 1).
In the Research Section, we have developed three

R&D Activities◦Inorganic Membranes Research Center

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Figure 1 : C ooperative structure centered on the Inorganic Membrane Research Center

Figure 2 : Energy carrier concept

inorganic membranes, namely silica, palladium, andportant role in transferring technologies to young andzeolite membranes, which have excellent characteris-

mid-level researchers. The organization plans to enrichtics. With these membranes as our core technologies,

this function in the near future.

we are conducting R & D on the separation and purifi-

In this paper, we introduce our efforts toward thecation of hydrogen, the separation of CO2 and CH4,

development of innovative environmental and energy

and the separation of hydrocarbons and other organic

technologies that use inorganic membranes. These

compounds.

technologies are advancing high-level R & D and ef-

In the Industry Collaboration Section, we have es-

forts to commercialize and industrialize the results.

tablished the “Industrialization Strategy Council”, which
includes members from separation membrane andsupport manufacturers and their user companies.

2. Development of silica membrane reactors for ahydrogen-based society

A major feature of the IMeRC is its structure, which

The development of efficient hydrogen transporta-

allows the creation of a synergy by the cooperation oftion and storage methods is essential for building a hy-

the Research and Industry Collaboration Sections.

drogen-based society. The “energy carrier” concept

Another feature of the organization is its advisory

has been proposed as a promising method, whereby

board composed of leading experts in inorganic mem-hydrogen is converted into chemical hydrides, such asbranes as well as experts in hydrogen and fuel cell re-methylcyclohexane and ammonia, that can be effi-

search, which is considered to be one of the major ap-

ciently transported and stored. After transportation andplications of these membranes. The advisory board isstorage, hydrogen can be released from the chemical

expected to provide valuable advice to the Researchhydride at the place and time it is required (Figure 2).

and Industry Collaboration Sections, and to play an im-

The technology for mass conversion of hydrogen39

R&D Activities◦Inorganic Membranes Research Center

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to methylcyclohexane or ammonia has already been
established, but there is not yet a definitive method forthe extraction of hydrogen. An excellent dehydrogenation catalyst has recently been developed, but thetechnology to allow highly pure hydrogen to be supplied to a fuel cell is not yet available.
The IMeRC is developing membrane reactors that
contain a silica membrane, prepared by counter-diffusion chemical vapor deposition (CVD), for the development and commercialization of a method for the efficient and stable production of highly pure hydrogenfrom methylcyclohexane. The technique is aimed atsmall- to medium-sized customers, such as commercial establishments and office buildings. This work is

Figure 3 : Membrane reactor for dehydrogenation of MCH

funded by the New Energy and Industrial Technology

100

Development Organization (NEDO) under the “AdAnalysis and Development of Hydrogen as an Energy
Carrier / Development of a Dehydrogenation Systemusing Inorganic Hydrogen Separation Membranes for
Organic Chemical Hydrides” project, in collaboration
with Chiyoda Corporation.
In this project, we have developed longer silica
membranes, achieved further improvements in hydrogen separation performance, developed single tubular
membrane reactors for dehydrogenation or purificationof methylcyclohexane, and carried out bench-scale dehydrogenation using apparatus consisting of sevenmembrane reactors.

90

Conversion [%]vancement of Hydrogen Technologies and Utilization /Equilibrium ShiftExp. Data (with Membrane)
Exp. Data (without Membrane)
Sim. (with Membrane)
Equilibrium

80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0

180

200

220

240

260

280

Temperature [ºC]

300

320

Figure 4 : Experimental and simulated results of the dehydrogenation
Figure 4. Experimental and simulated results of the dehydrogenation ofof MCH with/without membrane
MCH with/without membranemance of the silica membrane.

A 20-cm-long silica membrane had already been

We have developed a low-cost sealing method forachieved by FY 2015, and we have now succeeded in

the mass production of bench-scale dehydrogenation

fabricating membranes of up to 50 cm, suitable for ap-

apparatus and collected various engineering data. This

plication in industrial membrane reactors, by further

has allowed us to fabricate an apparatus composed of

improving the CVD fabrication apparatus. In FY 2016,seven tubular silica membrane reactors (Figure 5).

we further improved the hydrogen separation performance of these silica membranes.

In FY 2016, the development of modular equipment for practical use was promoted owing to technicalWe found that the configuration of the outer dehy-difficulties with the equipment identified in operational

drogenation catalyst in the single tubular membrane

studies. By collecting various data, we confirmed that areactor, considered to be necessary for industrial appli-

good equilibrium shift could be obtained under various

cation, could be successful without a protective film

conditions even with modular apparatus.

(Figure 3), and confirmed the shift in the equilibrium

We are developing dehydrogenation apparatus for(i.e., we reduced the operating temperature while

mass production, continue to gather engineering data,

maintaining the same conversion rate) (Figure 4).

and are aiming for the practical application of this ap-

Thus, increased catalyst lifetimes and suppression ofparatus.

side reactions can be expected. Moreover, we expectthat a further shift in the equilibrium can be obtained,40

3. Development of pore-fill-type membranes

and that the dehydrogenation process can be simpli-

Palladium membranes are expected to be applica-

fied by enhancing the hydrogen separation perfor-

ble to the dehydrogenation of ammonia and steam re-R&D Activities◦Inorganic Membranes Research Center

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Figure 6 : Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM)
images and Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry(EDX) mappings of a pore-fill-type Pd membrane

Figure 5 : B ench-scale dehydrogenation apparatus consistingof seven membrane reactors

forming of natural gas, and suitable for use in membrane reactors for high-efficiency hydrogen production.
The pressure swing adsorption (PSA) method, theconventional method for hydrogen production, needs
large-scale apparatus and multiple steps. In contrast,
the membrane reactor, which is a newer method, cansimplify the process and uses compact apparatus. Although conventional palladium membranes show highhydrogen selectivity, they have some problems due tothe palladium layer on the surface of the support: a)  membrane peeling due to the difference in the thermal

Figure 7 : FESEM images and EDX mappings of a surface-type Pd
membrane

expansion coefficients of the support and palladium, b)  of conventional palladium membranes. Moreover, theeasy hydrogen embrittlement, c) membrane damage

amount of palladium required is reduced by about 70%

by contact with flying objects, and d) alloying with thecompared with the same thickness of the conventional

metal of the catalyst. In addition, the preparation of

membrane (Figure 7) because the palladium particles

conventional membranes is expensive because of theare contained within the porous support.

large amount used of palladium.
We are developing pore-fill-type palladium membranes (Figure 6). Our membrane has a unique struc-

We are currently focusing on the practical application of these membranes by improving their performance and evaluating membrane reactors.

ture with palladium particles inside the α-alumina porous support; the exposed α-alumina porous support
thus acts as a protective layer. Our membranes have a

4. Development of high-performance zeolite membranes.

high hydrogen permeability and selectivity, equivalent

CO2 capture is important, not only for Carbon Cap-to those of conventional membranes. In addition, weture and Storage (CCS), but also for energy production

have confirmed that the durability is improved over thatprocesses, such as natural gas or biogas purification.

41

R&D Activities◦Inorganic Membranes Research Center

RITE

Today

201７

Recently, the application of high-silica zeolite membranes in CO2 separation processes has attracted considerable attention. The gas permeability of high-silica
zeolite membranes tends to be higher than that of
low-silica zeolite membranes because the large porevolumes of the high-silica membranes are advantageous for gas diffusion. Generally, low-silica zeolite
membranes are known to have low gas permeation
performances owing to water adsorption in their micropores. Therefore, pretreatment with a dehumidifier isneeded for a CO2 separation system that uses low-silica zeolite membranes. Conversely, because the poresof high-silica zeolite membranes are unlikely to be
blocked by water adsorption, they are expected to besuitable for use in the presence of water (Figure 8).

Figure 9 : FESEM image and EDX mappings of thepure silica zeolite RITE-1 membrane

Figure 8 : Classification of zeolites

We are developing pure silica zeolite membranes
that contain only Si–O–Si bonds in their framework(Figure 9). We have succeeded in developing a puresilica zeolite membrane (RITE-1 membrane) with a record CO2 separation performance (Figure 10). It was
confirmed that the RITE-1 membrane has a greater
steam stability than the topologically analogous aluminosilicate zeolite membrane. We are now investigating
the separation performance of pure silica zeolite membranes, including RITE-1, under various conditions.
5. Activities and efforts toward commercializationand industrialization
The Industry Collaboration Section of the IMeRC
established the Industrialization Strategy Council together with manufacturers of separation membranes,
support manufacturers, and user companies on April
15, 2016.
As of March 2017, 16 selective membrane and42

Figure 10 : C
 O2 separation performance of the pure silica zeolite RITE-1 membrane

support manufacturers and user companies participate
in this Council. Our goal is to establish an inorganic
membrane industry that contributes to innovative environmental and energy technologies by promoting acommon vision for manufacturers and user companies, as well as a joint research plan involving national
projects and other initiatives.
To realize this goal, we are promoting various activities, which include:a) Conducting needs and seeds matching meetings
toward the practical use of innovative environmental
and energy technologies that use inorganic membranes, and the establishment and operation of a
research group in which a future roadmap will beR&D Activities◦Inorganic Membranes Research Center

prepared;

RITE

Today

201７

member companies, and the IMeRC, with active dis-b) Planning joint implementation projects funded by thegovernment and NEDO;

cussions among participants. The participants arepleased to take part in the seminars, not only becausec) Promoting researcher exchange programs among

they offer a place to acquire knowledge, but also be-

the Research Section of the IMeRC and member

cause they provide the opportunity to interact with oth-companies;

er frontline researchers from member companies andd) Offering technical guidance from the IMeRC advisory board and Research Section;organizations.
We also conduct patent and literature surveys re-e) Hosting exclusive technology seminars for council
members;

lated to the seminar lecture content, and periodicallyprovide council members with “Needs and Seedsf) Offering exclusive supply services (“Needs andSeeds Technology Information”) to council mem-Technology Information”, which has special commentsfrom the IMeRC in the abstract.

bers.
In FY 2016, we spent approximately half a year

6. Conclusionfrom May to November examining and selecting

To strengthen Japan’s industrial competitivenessthemes to be taken up by the Research Section. As aand protect the global environment, it is important toresult of this active investigation and discussion, whichtackle the development of innovative environmental

intensively considered the needs of user companies

and energy technologies.

and proposals of seeds from separator membrane andAlthough the IMeRC was only launched in April

support manufacturers, the establishment of three Re-

2016, it has already established core technologies withsearch Groups was approved as Phase 1 (2 years) at

excellent characteristics, including silica, palladium,the extraordinary general meeting held in November,and zeolite membranes. The Industrialization Strategy

and they started their activities.

Council, which consists of separation membrane anda) CO2 Separation Research Groupsupport manufacturers and their user companies, isb) Hydrogen Production Research Group

progressing smoothly with the active participation ofc) Common Base (Reliability Evaluation Method) Re-

member companies. We hope to expand the circle ofsearch Group

collaboration between the IMeRC, our member com-

In addition, exclusive technology seminars forpanies, universities, and other parties, and hope to put

council members are held four times annually (three

innovative environmental and energy technologies thattimes as of the end of 2016), in which the latest R & D

use inorganic membranes into practical use and pro-

trends, needs, and seeds are introduced in a total of 11

mote their industrialization as soon as possible.

lectures given by IMeRC advisory board members,

Figure 11 : Exclusive seminar for council members

43Topics

RITE

Today

201７

Research & Coordination Group, ISO team

ISO/TC265 the 8th Plenary Meeting and WG Meetings(Sapporo)
The objective of ISO/TC265 is to develop international standards for carbon dioxide capture,transportation, and geological storage (CCS). Two meetings are held annually, consisting of a plenary
meeting joined by all participating countries and working groups (WGs). Participating countries taketurns hosting, and in past years France, Spain, China, Germany, USA (two times) and Norway haveorganized meetings. This most recent gathering was the first held in Japan and RITE acted as thefacilitator. The venue was located in Sapporo City and participants visited JCCS’s Tomakomai Demonstration Project site for the technical tour.
DATE
Nov. 28th Mon.– Dec. 2nd Fri.
VENUE
Sapporo Convention Center	1-1-1 Higashi-Sapporo 6 jo, Shiroishi-ku, Sapporo
HOST	JISC (Japanese Industrial Standards
Committee)
ORGANIZER	RITE (Secretary of National mirror
committee of ISO/TC265)
SPONSOR	INPEX, JAPEX, MHI, OYO, TOSHIBA, JCCSPARTICIPANTS	about 90
SCHDULE
Nov. 28 9:00–17:00 WG meetings (WG1–WG6)
17:00–19:00 Convenor meeting
Nov. 29 9:00–17:00 WG meetings (WG1–WG6)
17:00–19:00 WG6 Workshop
Nov. 30 9:00–11:00 WG meetings (WG1–WG6)
12:30–18:00
Technical tour to Tomakomai CCS Demonstration Site
18:30–20:30 Reception
Dec. 1 9:00–17:00 Plenary meeting
18:00–20:00 Group dinnerDec. 2 9:00–12:45 Plenary meeting
There are six working groups under ISO/TC265
for standardization: WG1: Capture; WG2: Transport;
WG3: Storage; WG4: Quantification and Verification;
WG5: Cross-Cutting Issues; and WG6: CO2-EOR.
The development of international standards is process of drafting in stages with the goal of reaching a
consensus, and international ballots are cast at eachdraft stage (*CD, DIS, FDIS and IS). Face-to-facemeetings for WGs such as the ones held in Japan are
essential for this work. In addition, the plenary meetingtakes place with all members in order to solve issues
across working groups, monitor progress, and consider the validation of procedures.

44

WG meetings were held on the first three days as
always and the main scopes of the work were as follows: WG1: Resolving the comments for CD voting;
WG3: Addressing the comments for DIS voting; WG4:
Solving the matter of voting for new standard development; WG5: Drafting of FDIS; and WG6: Drafting ofSecond CD (No WG2 meeting).
In addition, WG6 organized a workshop for the
first part of the week. The objective was to encourage
the understanding of CO2-EOR characteristics after
their first CD did not pass in voting.
With the support of JCCS, the technical tour of Tomakomai included an overview of the site and a visit toinjection wells, control room and monitoring room. Thiswas followed by a presentation on the Demonstration
Project. There was lively discussion during the Q&A
session, which indicated high interest from overseas
experts.
During the plenary meeting, the voting results of
WG convenors were introduced, outcome of WG meetings were confirmed and discussions were conductedon “how to deal with cross-cutting terms” and otheritems.
The next plenary meeting was announced to beheld May 8-12, 2017, in Xinjian-Uygur Autonomous
Region in China.
*CD : Committee Draft, DIS: Draft IS, FDIS: Final Draft
IS, IS: International Standard

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RITE

Research & Coordination Group

Systems Analysis Group

GHGT-13 Participation Report

COP22 Side Event

GHGT-13(13th

International

ConferenceonGreenhouse Gas Control Technologies) was held in
November 14-18th in Lausanne, Switzerland, hosted by
the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)) , the Swiss
Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) and the IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme (IEAGHG). This is thelargest international conference that focuses on mitigation technologies especially CCS (Carbon dioxide capture and storage) and are held every two years in IEAGHG’s member countries. The conference seriesrotates between North America, Europe and Asia.
Participants were about 1,000 from 39 countries
and discussed on 13 themes in 77 technical sessions:geological storage has 24 sessions (including otherstorage options) and capture has 23. These twothemes were major, about 60% of all sessions. RITE
gave nine oral and ten poster presentations in technical sessions on geological storage, capture, and others. In addition, Dr. Ziqiu Xue, Chief Researcher/Project Leader of CO2 Storage Research Group, RITE,
served as a session chair for technical sessions on
storage.

Today

201７

Evaluations on the emission reduction efforts of
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) incost metrics
A side event at COP22 in Marrakech was held todiscuss on the evaluations of emission reduction efforts of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs),
which will become very important in the review under
the Paris Agreement. After an introduction by Dr. Kopp,
Dr. Aldy presented the framework and the principles of
the NDC evaluation, as well as a brief overview of results obtained with the four models (DNE21+ etc.). Dr.
Akimoto presented NDC comparison based on several
indicators including mitigation costs. He and Dr. Aleluia
Reis compared the outcome of several scenarios of
NDC implementation combined or not with other policies such as energy pledges.
Date

15 November 2016

Venue

COP22 Japan Pavilion (Marrakech)

Organization

RITE

Co-organization Resources for the Future (RFF), Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM)
Program• Introduction; Raymond Kopp, RFF

At the end of five days conference, the next
GHGT-14 was announced to be held in Melbourne,
Australia in October 21-26th, 2018.

• Transparency, Policy Surveillance, and the Comparison of Mitigation Efforts; Joseph E. Aldy, Harvard
Kennedy School• Evaluations on the emission reduction efforts of
NDCs in cost metrics; Keigo Akimoto, RITE• Transparency, Policy Surveillance, and Levels of Efforts; Lara Aleluia Reis, FEEM/CMCC• Discussions and Q&A

Swiss Tech Convention Centre

Keynote Address45

Topics

RITE

Today

201７

Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology Group

Green Sustainable Chemistry(GSC) Award—Incentive Award

Introduction of new NEDO
project “smart cell”

The 15th Green Sustainable Chemistry (GSC) In-

Our group joined NEDO’s project on the “Develop-

centive Award was given to “Development of manufac-

ment of high production technology for highly functional

turing process for biomass-based phenol” developedmaterials by plants and microorganisms” (research andby RITE, Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd., and Green Phe-development period: 5 years).

nol Development Co., Ltd. received, which was given

Recently, the efficient production technology forfor achievements that contributed to the promotion ofhighly functional materials via plants and microorgan-

green sustainable chemistry.

isms has drawn a great deal of global attention, and it

In May 2 to 3 at Kobe, three members from RITE,

is estimated to grow up to 20 trillion yen by 2030. Due

Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd., and Green Phenol Devel-

to international competitiveness, bioinformation-based

opment Co., Ltd. attended an awards ceremony andlogical and speedy gene design, large scale gene re-gave lectures with support of The Japan Association

combination technology, and their fusion are necessary

for Chemical Innovation (JACI).

to develop the technology.
A new system to obtain the large amount of biolog-

Phenol is an essential material for the production

ical data required for gene design, the quick design ofof phenolic resin, epoxy resin, polycarbonate, and oth-intracellular metabolic process, and the development of

er polymers that are typically used in automotive parts,

technology for industrialization of genome editing tech-electronic materials, and building blocks, and its de-nology and its use for controlling the microbial produc-

mand is further increasing in the world.

tion system is our goal to realize energy efficient and

The typical industrial process for phenol produc-

low-cost production of highly functional materials.

tion is the petroleum-based cumene process with highIn this project, the most advanced methods of bio-energy consumption due to the operation at a hightechnology will be applied to the artificial construction

temperature and pressure using organic solvents andof “smart cell,” for the production of functional materi-strong acids. Therefore, an environmentally friendly

als, useful chemicals etc. We have developed an infor-

phenol production technique is desired.

mation analysis system to achieve quick and efficient

Based on this background, we succeeded in de-creation of the “smart cell,” by using intracellular meta-veloping a manufacturing process for biomass-based

bolic pathway design and its verification in C. glutamic-

phenol with the RITE Bioprocess (two-stage biopro-um strain. Thus, we can create specially optimized mi-

cess, see text), using genetically modified Corynebac-

croorganisms for the production of useful compounds,

terium glutamicum, a workhorse for industrial amino

and we will also verify their production ability to maxi-acid production. Our technology is expected to be ap-

mize. We hope to create a “smart cell industry” for real-plied for the production of other aromatic chemicals

ization of a sustainable society through the project.

such as medical intermediates, in addition to phenol.

Creation of a smart cell industry (Ref. METI)
GSC incentive award winners

46

Topics

RITE

Today

201７

Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology Group

BioJapan2016
The World Business Forum, ‘BioJapan 2016’, was held at PACIFICO Yokohama on October 12–14, 2016, and it
was jointly conducted with Regenerative Medicine JAPAN 2016 for the first time.
The number of visitors was 12,724 in 2014, 14,153 in 2015, and 15,133 in 2016, which was the largest ever.
RITE actively participated in this event by giving a lecture at an organizer seminar, making presentations by researchers, and putting up a joint booth an exhibition in collaboration with Green Phenol Development Co., Ltd.
TakashiHonjo,
the senior managing
director at RITE, gave
a lecture entitled ‘The
Role of Green Biotechnology to Establish
Zero-Emission Takashi Honjo, senior managing diSociety’, in the special rector, RITE
session 1 of the organizer seminars named ‘Toward
Establishing a Sustainable Society’, on October 13.
[The session’s coordinator & speakers]#Akihiko Kondo, Professor, Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe University,‘Systems and Synthetic Biology is Boosting a Creation of Bio-economy’#Osamu Azegami, General Manager, Biotechnology &Afforestation Laboratory / New Business PlanningDiv., TOYOTA MOTOR, ‘Toyota’s R&D Activities in
the Biological Field’#Takashi Honjo, Senior Managing Director, RITE, ‘The
Role of Green Biotechnology to Establish Zero-Emission Society#Hiroyuki Yano, Professor, Kyoto University, ‘Application of Cellulose Nanofibers for Sustainable Society’
RITE’s four senior researchers made presentations about the RITE Bioprocess as follows at the JBA
Open Innovation Zone in the Exhibition Hall on October 13.
#Naoto Kato, ‘Advantage of RITE Bioprocess and its commercialization’#Yukihiro
Kitade,‘Practical development of green phe- Presentations at the JBA Open Innovation Zone
nol production by
RITE Bioprocess’#Takahisa Kogure, ‘Overproduction of shikimate as astarting material for the anti-influenza drug’#Takeshi Kubota, ‘Challenges to the production of highvalue-added chemicals: aromatic compounds’
RITE put up a joint booth in the exhibition in collaboration with Green Phenol Development Co., Ltd.
for the second consecutive year. In the booth, we introduced our key technologies and the current projects
funded by METI and NEDO. We also explained theactivities of Green Earth Institute Co., Ltd. as examplesof the RITE Bioprocess’ commercial uses and technologies of green phenol.
[Hangings in the exhibition booth]1) Introduction of RITE and research groups2) RITE Bioprocess, a key technology for biorefineryfrom non-food biomass3) R&D of bio-butanol and bio-hydrogen production4) R&D for production of 100% green jet fuel5) Industrialization of RITE Bioprocess6) Green Phenol Development Co., Ltd.
7) Development of bioprocess for production of green
phenol8) New trends for biotechnological production ofgreen-aromatic compounds
We also had exhibits that included various samples, such as several
non-food biomasses,
the amino acid that is
the first commercial
product from Green
Earth Institute Co.,
Ltd. using the RITE
Bioprocess,andgreen phenolic moldings.
We appreciate
your attending thisevent and visiting our
RITE/GPD exhibition booth
booth.

47

Topics

RITE

Today

201７

Chemical Research Group

6th Symposium for Innovative CO2 Membrane Separation
Technology— Recent trends of membrane separation technology contributing
to the prevention of global warming —Molecular Gate Membrane module Technology Research Association(MGMTRA)COP21 (Paris Agreement) reaffirmed the goal of keeping average warming below 2 degrees Celsius, while also
urging parties to “pursue efforts” to limit it to 1.5 degrees. Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS) is expected to
be one of the important options for global warming measures. Molecular Gate Membrane module Technology Research Association (MGMTRA) is conducting a project entrusted by METI to develop a low-cost innovative CO2
separation membrane for high-pressured gas from Integrated coal Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) etc., whichis considered a promising candidate for the efficient coal gasification power generation with CO2 capture (“CO2 Separation Membrane Module practical R&D Project”).
In this symposium, we would like to inform people with latest information on CO2 separation by reporting recent
results of CO2 separation membrane technologies by MGMTRA, and the overview of the CO2 separation membrane
technologies development in overseas.
Program• Lecture 1: Plenary lecture•L ecture 4: Invited lecture“CO2 zero emission and CCS”

“Membrane Gas Separation Applications for CO2

Prof. Yoichi Kaya PhD, President of RITEEOR Natural Gas Processing Plant”• Lecture 2: Plenary lectureAtsushi Morisato PhD, Functional Director of

“Next-generation thermal power plant and CO2 re-Membrane R&D, Cameron, a Schlumberger com-duction”

pany

Prof. Takayuki Takarada PhD, Division of Environ-• Lecture 5

mental Engineering Science, Graduate School of“On R&D of next-generation membrane module

Science and Technology Gunma University

by MGMTRA”• Lecture 3: Invited lecture
“Membrane Testing at the US National Carbon
Capture Center”

Prof. Shin-ichi Nakao PhD, Senior Managing Director of MGMTRA• Lecture 6

Frank Morton*, Director, Technology Develop-

“Latest trend of CO2 separation membrane tech-ment, Southern Company Services, Inc.

nologies in overseas”

*Mr. Frank Morton was absent on that day. Teruhi-

Teruhiko Kai PhD, Technical Director of MGMTRA

ko Kai, Technical Director of MGMTRA, read the48

report in his place.

Topics

RITE

Today

201７

CO2 Storage Research Group

The Launch of the Safety Management Technology Development
Project and the Establishment of GCS Technology Research
Association○Project on the Safety Management Technology ofLarge Scale Geological CO2 Storage in FY2016

CO2 dissolution to reservoirs.
In addition, we compile expertise accumulated

Aiming at making carbon capture and storage

through our technical development, projects in other(CCS) – a promising global warming mitigation tech-countries and the Japan’s demonstration project andnology - technically viable around 2020, RITE started awill complete best practice manuals for CCS deploy-project on safety management technology for CCS in

ment. We also promote technical exchange with over-2016. We develop monitoring technologies for CO2 in-seas organizations such as research institutes proac-

jection and storage and simulation technology for thetively.

prediction of long-term CO2 behavior. We are commissioned the project for five years by a fiscal year of 2020

○Geological Carbon Dioxide Storage Technology

by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Our

Research Association (GCS)

ultimate goal is to employ a methodology of safety as-

In order to make CCS technology practically avail-sessment for CO2 injection and storage at a site at aable, private companies and research institutes should

large scale and to establish the safety management

jointly conduct R&D, building on research that has

technology

been conducted mainly by RITE. For this purpose, theGeological Carbon Dioxide Storage Technology Research Association (GCS) was established on April 1
2016.
In addition to RITE, GCS consists of another research institute and four private companies: the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science andTechnology (AIST), Oyo Corporation, INPEX Corporation, Taisei Corporation, and Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd.
GCS develops geological CO2 storage technologies suitable for Japan’s reservoirs at a large scale ofone million tonnes of CO2 per year. It also conductssocial acceptance oriented R&D.
GCS works on R&D, collaborating closely with the

In the development of monitoring technologies, welarge-scale demonstration project that Japan CCS Co.,

conduct research on the monitoring of geological for-Ltd. is conducting, commissioned by the Ministry ofmation stability and well integrity through measuring

Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

temperature, pressure and deformation of formation
when injecting CO2. We will verify the developed technology by implementing at the CCS demonstration site
in the waters of Tomakomai in Hokkaido. We also attempt to develop a technology of monitoring CO2 continuously for a long term to detect CO2 leakage if CO2
leak is happened.
In order to inject and store CO2 efficiently, we are
aimed at improving storage efficiency by the establishment of techniques for optimizing a layout of wells andmethodologies for applying a technology to enhance49Topics

RITE

Today

201７

CO2 Storage Research GroupWin the Society of Exploration
Geophysics of Japan Award
2015 — Stain Measurement withDistributed Fiber Optic Sensors
under Hydrostatic Conditions —Received the Society of Exploration Geophysics ofJapan Award 2015 for a paper titled “Stain Measurement with Distributed Fiber Optic Sensors under a Hydrostatic Condition”, a research team in RITE, Dr Xue,
Dr Kiyama and Dr Kogure (Shimane University at present), got a prize at the International Conference Center
Ibuka Memorial Hall of Waseda University in May
2016.
The award is given for the accomplishment that contributes to the advancement of exploration technologies.
RITE conducts R&D to monitor the deformation ofgeological formations by measuring strains and otherparameters from the surface to the subsurface vertically with an optic fiber embedded along a well as distributed sensors.
The paper presented a methodology to calculatechanges in strains with data acquired with distributed
fiber optic sensors under a hydrostatic environment
and its viability of the measurement. The award wasgiven for its novelty and technological competence as
an exploration technology.
We continue the development to put it in a practically applicable level as a tool of monitoring the integrity ofgeological formations in geological CO2 storage
through lab-scale tests and field tests.

CCS Technical Workshop 2016
— For Safe Large-Scale
Geological CO2 Storage —With large-scale CO2 storage projects having become operational in Canada and USA recently, Japan
started the Tomakomai CCS Demonstration Project toinject 100,000 tonnes of CO2 annually in aquifers in
2016. People have greater hope for safe large-scale
CO2 storage.
The workshop was organized with an eye on realizing safe large-scale CO2 storage in aquifers. The
event was aimed at learning DOE supported policies
for large-scale projects and R&D strategy; and expertise compiled through commercial-scale CCS projects
such as the Quest project in Canada and the Industrial
CCS project in USA.
There was also a report on “R&D in the Geological
Carbon Dioxide Storage Technology Research Association”, which was established in 2016 to conduct R&D
on CO2 storage suitable for reservoirs specific to Japan
at a scale of one million tonnes of CO2 per year.
Agenda• Talk 1: U.S Department of Energy Supported CCS
R&D
Darin Damiani, Carbon Storage Program Manager,
DOE• Talk 2: Scaling up of Deep Saline Storage in Illinois,
USA
Sallie E. Greenberg, University of Illinois• Talk 3: Setting the Stage for Commercial-Scale CCS
Robert J.Finley Ph.D., Independent Consultant• Talk 4: The Quest CCS Project
Simon O’Brien, Quest Storage Manager, Shell Canada• Talk 5: R&D in the Geological Carbon Dioxide Storage Technology Research Association
Ziqiu Xue, Manager, Technical Department, GCS

50

Topics

RITE

Today

201７

Inorganic Membranes Research Center

Inorganic Membranes ResearchCenter Inaugural Symposium

Highly Functional Ceramics
Expo Osaka

This symposium was held in commemoration of

The 1st Highly Functional Ceramics Expo Osaka,

the establishment of the Inorganic Membranes Re-

organized by Reed Exhibitions Japan Ltd., was held at

search Center (IMeRC) in April 2016. Following the

INTEX Osaka on 5–7 October 2016. We introduced the

speech from President Kaya on behalf of the organiz-

R & D activities of RITE by showing samples and mod-ers, and the greeting from Mr. Hiroshi Fukushima of theels of inorganic membranes (silica, palladium, and ze-

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, there wereolite membranes) that are currently being studied by

two keynote lectures, one special lecture, and a panel

the IMeRC. We also introduced the Industrialization

discussion on the current status of the use of inorganic

Strategy Council and our other efforts to put innovative

membranes to support innovative environmental andenvironmental and energy technologies that use inor-

energy technologies and the prospects for their future

ganic membranes into practical and industrial use.

industrialization. A dedicated discussion session with

Over 220 people, including selective membrane manu-

questions from participants was also held. Popular

facturers and potential user companies, came to thecomments from the participants concerned the possi-

RITE booth and discussed our activities with us. The

bilities and problems of inorganic membranes.

lecture, “Current and prospective gas separation membranes made of ceramics—towards the practical im-

Date

15 April 2016

plementation of innovative environmental and energy

Venue

Ito Hall (Tokyo)

technologies” by the deputy director of the IMeRC,

Organized by

RITE

Ryoichi Nishida, on 7 October was full and widely in-

Number of participants 227

formed those present of the activities of RITE. We will

Program

put the opinions of the attendees to good use in our– Keynote Lecture 1: The role of membrane technolo-

future R & D activities and in strengthening industrial

gies in energy and environmental policy

collaborations. Finally, we would like to thank all visi-

Kenji Yamaji, Director General, RITE

tors for coming.

– Keynote Lecture 2: Aims of the Inorganic Membranes
Research Center
Shin-ichi Nakao, Director of the Inorganic Membranes Research Center, RITE
– Special Lecture: Development of inorganic membranes for environmental and energy technologies
Hidetoshi Kita, Professor, Yamaguchi University– Panel Discussion: Inorganic membranes for innovative environmental and energy technologies
Coordinator: Shin-ichi Nakao, RITE
Panelists:
Masataka Kajiwara, Iwatani Corporation
Takashi Ono, Kyocera Corporation
Takashi Yasuda, JGC Corporation
Kazuhiro Yano, Hitachi Zosen Corporation
Prof. Toshinori Tsuru, Hiroshima University

RITE booth51

Outreach Activities

RITE

Today

201７

In order to introduce the recent achievements of our research and development and also to promote the collaboration among industry, government and academia, RITE is providing the most advanced information for mitigating
global warming through symposiums and various media.
In addition, we actively engage in environmental education activities on global warming issue targeting students
from elementary school to high school mainly in the Keihanna district where RITE is located.

Symposiums
Date

52

Symposium Description

Related Dept.

10 Feb. 2016

ALPS International Symposium 2016
—COP21 results and Long-term Reductions of Greenhouse Gas Emissions beyond
COP21—• Venue: Otemachi Sankei-Plaza• Organizer: RITE
• Co-organizer: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry• Number of participants: 320

Systems Analysis
Group

7 Mar. 2016

COP Paris Agreement and next IPCC Reports• Venue: Dai-ichi Hotel Tokyo• Organizer: RITE
• Co-organizer: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry• Number of participants: 210

Research & Coordination Group15 Apr. 2016

Inorganic Membranes Research Center Inaugural Symposium• Venue: Ito Hall (Tokyo)• Organizer: RITE
• Number of participants: 227

Inorganic Membranes ResearchCenter

7 Dec. 2016

Innovative Environmental Technology Symposium 2016
—Establishment of zero emission society through innovation of energy environment
technologies—• Venue: Ito Hall (Tokyo)• Organizer: RITE
• Number of participants: 390

Research & Coordination Group19 Jan. 2017

CCS Technical Workshop 2016
—For Safe Large-Scale Geological CO2 Storage—• Venue: Toranomon Hills Forum, Main Hall
• Organizer: Geological Carbon Dioxide Storage Technology Research Association (GCS)• Co-organizer: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry• Number of participants: 365

CO2 Storage
Research Group

23 Jan. 2017

6th Symposium for Innovative CO2 Membrane Separation Technology—Recent trends of membrane separation technology contributing to the prevention of
global warming—• Venue: Ito Hall (Tokyo)• Organizer: Molecular Gate Membrane module Technology Research Association (MGMTRA)• Co-organizer: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry• Number of participants: 201

Chemical Research Group

26 Jan. 2017

Measures for tackling Global Warming—IPCC Activities and Perspectives in AR6 Cycle—• Venue: Hatsumeikaikan• Organizer: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry• Co-organizer: RITE
• Number of participants: 250

Research & Coordination GroupOutreach Activities

RITE

Today

201７

Exhibitions
Dates

Event Description

Related Dept.

5-7 Oct.
2016

1st Highly Functional Ceramics Expo Osaka•V enue: INTEX Osaka•O rganizer: Reed Exhibitions Japan Ltd.,

Inorganic Membranes ResearchCenter12-14 Oct.
2016

BioJapan 2016 enue: Pacifico Yokohama•V•O rganizer: BioJapan Organizing Committee, JTB Communication Design, Inc.

Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology Group

Press Releases
Date

Title

6 Jan. 2016

Announcement of ALPS International Symposium 2016

9 Feb. 2016

Announcement of Symposium "COP Paris Agreement and next IPCC Reports"

29 Feb. 2016

Establishment of Inorganic Membranes Research Center and Announcement of Inaugural Symposium

31 Mar. 2016

Geological Carbon Dioxide Storage Technology Research Association Established in Japan

21 Oct. 2016

Licensing of chemical solvent

21 Oct. 2016

Announcement of Innovative Environmental Technology Symposium 201628 Nov. 2016

Announcement of CCS Technical Workshop 2016

1 Dec. 2016

Announcement of 6th Symposium for Innovative CO2 Membrane Separation Technology

20 Dec. 2016

Japan's first CTCN Technical Assistance Project with Japanese unique low-carbon technology

22 Dec. 2016

Announcement of Symposium "Measures for tackling Global Warming"

26 Dec. 2016

Technological exchange of CCS with Korea CCS R&D Center

Environmental Education◇Facility Visit Program and Lecture
Date

Place

Participants

21 Jan.
1 Mar.
3 Mar.
6 May
2 Aug.
15 Sep.
13 Oct.
18 Nov.

RITE
Seikaminami Junior High School
Higashihikari Elementary School
RITE
RITE
RITE
RITE
RITE

Seikaminami Junior High School
Seikaminami Junior High School
Higashihikari Elementary School
Narakita High School
Nishimaizuru High School
Naragakuen Tomigaoka Junior High School
MASUDA Senior High School
Seikanishi Junior High School

Number ofparticipants
4
Approx. 60
Approx. 110
40
8
9
22
10

◇Workshop and Exhibition
Date

Place

Title

6 Feb.
Jul. – Aug.
23 Aug.
6 Feb.

Keihanna-Plaza
RITE
RITE
Keihanna-Plaza

Global Warming and CCS Study Workshop “Science Experiment”
Global Warming and CCS Study Workshop “Experiment and Game”
Global Warming and CCS Study Workshop “Science Show”
KEIHANNA Science Festival 2016

Number ofparticipants
22
72
56

53

2016 Paper, Presentation and Publication

RITE

Today

201７

Systems Analysis Group
Original Paper
Title

Researchers

Journal1

Evaluations on the Japan’s Greenhouse Gas Emission
Reduction Target for 2030

F. Sano, K. Akimoto, T. Homma, K.
Tokushige

Journal of Japan Society of Energy andResources, Vol.37 No.1, 2016, pp51-60

2

The uncertainty of climate sensitivity and its implication
for the Paris negotiation

Y. Kaya, M. Yamaguchi, K. Akimoto

Sustainability Science, May 2016, Volume
11, Issue 3, pp 515-518

3Comparing emission mitigation efforts across thecountries

J. Aldy, B. Pizer, K. Akimoto

Climate Policy (online)

4

Transdisciplinary Co-Design of Scientific Research
Agendas: 40 Research Questions for Socially Relevant
Climate Engineering Research

M. Sugiyama, S. Asayama, T. Kosugi,
A. Ishii, S. Emori, J. Adachi, K.
Akimoto, M. Fujiwara, T. Hasegawa, Y.
Hibi, K. Hirata, T. Ishii, T. Kaburagi, Y.
Kita, S. Kobayashi, A. Kurosawa, M.
Kuwata, K. Masuda, M. Mitsui, T.
Sustainability Science (online)
Miyata, H. Mizutani, S. Nakayama, K.
Oyamada, T. Sashida, M. Sekiguchi,
K. Takahashi, Y. Takamura, J. Taki, T.
Taniguchi, H. Tezuka, T. Ueno, S.
Watanabe, R. Watanabe, N.
Yamagishi, G. Yoshizawa

5

Estimating option values of solar radiation management
assuming that climate sensitivity is uncertain

Y. Arino, K. Akimoto, F. Sano, T.
Homma, J. Oda, T. Tomoda

6

Economic Tools to Promote Transparency and Comparability in the Paris Agreement

J. Aldy, W. Pizer, M. Tavoni, L. A. Reis,
K. Akimoto, G. Blanford, C. Carraro, L.
Nature Climate Change 6, 1000-1004,
E. Clarke, J. Edmonds, G. C. lyer, H.
2016
C. McJeon, R. Richels, S. Rose, F.
Sano

7

The analyses on the economic costs for achieving thenationally determined contributions and the expected
global emission pathways

K. Akimoto, F. Sano, B. Shoai-Tehrani

Evolutionary and Institutional Economics
Review (online)8

Decomposing passenger transport futures: Comparing
results of global integrated assessment models

O.Y. Edelenbosch, D.L. McCollum,
D.P. van Vuuren, C. Bertram, S.
Carrara, H. Daly, S. Fujimori, A.
Kitous, P. Kyle, E.O. Broin, P.
Karakatsoulis, F. Sano

Transportation Research Part D (online)

9

Study on Coal Power Plant and Carbon Capture andStorage Investments based on Real Options Approach

J. Oda, K. Akimoto

Journal of Japan Society of Energy andResources, Vol.37, No.6, pp.13-22, 201610

A global analysis of residential heating and cooling
K. Gi, F. Sano, A. Hayashi, T. Tomoda,
service demand and cost-effective energy consumption
K. Akimoto
under different climate change scenarios up to 2050

Proceedings of the National Academy of
Science of the United States of America,
vol. 113 no. 21, pp.5886-5891, 2016

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for
Global Change (online)

Other Paper
Title

Researchers

Magazine, Publication

1

Best energy mix under electricity system reformation- forecasts and issues in renewable energy, nuclear
power and thermal power -K. Akimoto

Electrical Review, April 2016

2

Required cost for achieving nationally determined
contributions(NDC)

K. Akimoto

Monthly Keidanren, April 2016

3

Trends in Japanese Energy Policy & the “Innovative
Energy Strategy”

K. Akimoto

JEF Japan Spotlight Jul./Aug. 2016

4

Global warming mitigation trends after COP21

K. Akimoto

Petroleum Technology Dec. 2016 Vol.39
No.12, pp.939-944

5

A vision towards global energy supply and demand

K. Akimoto

Energy Review, Jan. 2017

Oral Presentation (International Academic Society)
Title

54

Researchers

Forum

1

Carbon intensity and its determination in Japanese
steel industry

J. Oda, K. Akimoto, T. Homma

The 5th IAEE Asian Conference, The
University of Western Australia Business
School, Perth, Australia, Feb. 14, 20162

Evaluation of 2030 GHG emissions based on thesubmitted NDCs and their consistency with temperature rise target emission pathways consideringscientific and policy uncertainties

K. Akimoto

wholeSEM 3rd Annual Conference, Jul. 4,
2016

3

A Review of Micro and Macro-economic Conditions for
Off-grid Integration of Renewable Energies

B. Shoai-Tehrani, K. Akimoto, F. Sano

The Sixth Congress of the East Asian
Association of Environmental andResource Economics, Aug. 8, 2016

2016 Paper, Presentation and Publication

RITE

Today

201７

Systems Analysis Group
Title

Researchers

Forum

4

Impacts of continuing low fossil fuel prices on the
global greenhouse gas emissions reduction pledged in
INDCs

Y. Arino, F. Sano, K. Akimoto

The Sixth Congress of the East Asian
Association of Environmental andResource Economics, Aug. 9, 20165

An analysis on correlation between climate change
mitigation and air pollution control by using a global
energy systems model

F. Sano, K. Akimoto, K. Gi, Y.
Nakagami

11th SDEWES Conference, Sep. 6, 2016

6

Assessment of Potential and Breakeven Prices of
Fusion Power Plants Under Low-Carbon Development
Scenarios

K. Gi, F. Sano, K. Akimoto

26th IAEA Fusion Energy Conference,
Oct. 21, 20167

Are Deregulated Electricity Market and Climate Policy
compatible? Lessons from overseas, from Europe toJapan

B. Shoai-Tehrani, P. Da Costa, K.
Akimoto, Y. Nakagami

USAEE2016, Oct. 25, 20168

Preliminary Study on Policy Mix Effects on Economic
Viability of Carbon Capture and Storage Project inJapanese Steel Industry

J. Oda, K. Akimoto

13th Conference on Greenhouse Gas
Control Technologies (GHGT-13), Nov.
16, 2016

9

GHG emission pathways for the 1.5 °C temperaturerise target and their challenges

K. Akimoto, F. Sano, T. Tomoda

9th Annual Meeting of the IAMC (Integrated Assessment Modeling Consortium),Dec. 5, 201610

Underlying policies and evaluations of Japan’s Nationally Determined Contribution

K. Gi

9th Annual Meeting of the IAMC (Integrated Assessment Modeling Consortium),Dec. 6, 2016

Oral Presentation (Domestic Academic Society)
Title

Researchers

Forum

1

Evaluations on Emission Reduction Efforts of INDCs
Submitted by Governments

K. Akimoto, F. Sano, T. Homma, J.
Oda, K. Tokushige

The 32nd Conference on Energy,
Economy, and Environment, Feb. 2, 20162

An Evaluation on the Large Scale Supply Costs ofEnergy Crops

A. Hayashi, K. Akimoto, F. Sano

The 32nd Conference on Energy,
Economy, and Environment, Feb. 2, 2016

3

Expert Questionnaire Survey on Climate Change Risk
Management

J. Oda, K. Akimoto, K. Tokushige, A.
Hayashi

The 32nd Conference on Energy,
Economy, and Environment, Feb. 2, 2016

4

Analysis of Industrial Structures under the SSPs and
Mitigation Scenarios

T. Homma, K. Akimoto, F. Sano

The 32nd Conference on Energy,
Economy, and Environment, Feb. 2, 20165

Off-grid Integration of Renewable Energies: a Techno-Economic Assessment

B. Shoai-Tehrani, K. Akimoto, F. Sano

The 32nd Conference on Energy,
Economy, and Environment, Feb. 2, 20166

Evaluating the option values of solar radiation management under scenarios regarding ocean acidification

Y. Arino, K. Akimoto, F. Sano, T.
Homma, J. Oda, T. Tomoda, A.
Hayashi

The 32nd Conference on Energy,
Economy, and Environment, Feb. 2, 2016

7

Climate Change-related Investment Trends <A Review
on the classification and Estimates of Climate Funds>

K. WadaThe 32nd Conference on Energy,
Economy, and Environment, Feb. 2, 20168

An Analysis on Long-term Climate Change Mitigation
Under the Scenarios Harmonizing SSP Storylines

F. Sano, K. Akimoto, T. Homma, J.
Oda, A. Hayashi, K. Gi

The 32nd Conference on Energy,
Economy, and Environment, Feb. 3, 2016

9

Analysis of Long-term Residential Usage Demand andEnergy Consumption Scenarios Using the Global
Energy Assessment Model: DNE21+

K. Gi, F. Sano, A. Hayashi, K. Akimoto

The 32nd Conference on Energy,
Economy, and Environment, Feb. 3, 201610

Evaluations on Impacts due to Climate Change in
Major Global Cities

A. Hayashi, M. Kii

The 53rd Conference of the Committee ofInfrastructure Planning and Management(Spring Conference), May 29, 201611

An Analysis on Correlation between Climate Change
Mitigation and Air Pollution Control by Using a Global
Energy Systems Model

F. Sano, K. Akimoto, K. Gi, Y.
Nakagami

The 35th Annual Meeting of Japan
Society of Energy and Resources, Jun. 6,
2016

12

Japan’s GHG emission reductions for 2050 in consistency with the 2°C target

K. Akimoto, F. Sano

The 35th Annual Meeting of Japan
Society of Energy and Resources, Jun. 7,
2016

13

Estimation on Potential Land Areas for Energy Crop
Production and a Large-scale Afforestation Under the
Scenarios Harmonized with SSP Storylines

A. Hayashi, K. Akimoto, F. Sano

The 35th Annual Meeting of Japan
Society of Energy and Resources, Jun. 7,
2016

14

Study on Coal Power Plant and Carbon Capture andStorage Investments based on Real Options Approach

J. Oda, K. Akimoto

The 35th Annual Meeting of Japan
Society of Energy and Resources, Jun. 7,
2016

15

Analysis of Industrial Structures under the SSPs andthe Climate Scenarios

T. Homma, J. Oda, K. Akimoto, F.
Sano

The 35th Annual Meeting of Japan
Society of Energy and Resources, Jun. 7,
2016

16

Analysis of targets of fusion energy development inJapan under low-carbon scenarios using a global
energy system model: DNE21+

K. Gi, F. Sano, K. Akimoto

The 11th Joint Conference on Nuclear
and Fusion Energy, Jul. 15, 2016

55

2016 Paper, Presentation and Publication

RITE

Today

201７

Systems Analysis Group
Title

Researchers

Forum

17

Evaluation of Bioenergy Potentials for Negative
EmissionsA. Hayashi, K. Akimoto, F. Sano

The 25th Annual Meeting of Japan
Institute of Energy, Aug. 9, 201618

Energy Policy Trends under Paris Climate Agreement

K. Akimoto

The 48th Autumn Meeting of the Societyof Chemical Engineers, Sep. 6, 201619

Evaluations on International Comparison of Emission
Reduction Efforts of the INDCs

K. Akimoto

The 21th Annual Meeting of Society for
Environmental Economics and Policy
Studies, Sep. 11, 2016

Other Oral Presentation and Non-Journal Publication
Title

56

Researchers

Magazine, Newspaper, etc.

1

International Comparison of Ambitions of INDCs andthe Expected Global Emissions

K. Akimoto

The 117th Symposium of The 21stCentury Public Policy Institute “Strategies
under COP21”, Jan. 15, 2016

2

Considering energy mix and energy policy from a wide,
deep point of view

K. Akimoto

National Institute of Technology, Kagoshima College, Jan. 25, 2016

3

Accomplishments and future issues of COP21

K. Akimoto

Energy and Environment Education
Workshop Seminar in Kansai, Feb. 13,
2016

4

Co-benefits Policy and Research beyond Paris

K. WadaJapan-IIASA Workshop, Feb. 23, 2016

5

Analysis of Pathways towards the Achievement of
1.5°C Target and its Evaluation

K. Akimoto

Symposium “COP Paris Agreement andFuture IPCC Report”, Mar. 7, 2016

6

Paris Agreement - A Valuable, New Framework forGreenhouse Gas Reduction

K. Akimoto

THE SEIKEI ORAI The Review ofBusiness & Politics, April 20167

A Quantitative Analysis of Nuclear Energy from a 3E
Perspective

K. Akimoto

The 49th JAIF Annual Conference, Apr.
13, 2016

8

Achievements of COP21 and CTCN Meeting

K. WadaThe 53rd TECUSE Study Meeting, Apr.
20, 2016

9International Orientation of NDCs and their Long-term
Emission Pathways

K. Akimoto

Open Symposium of Science Council ofJapan “A Future Course of Energy andGlobal Warming Mitigation in accord with
Paris Agreement”, May 18, 201610

An Analysis of Japan’s INDC and Long-term Target by
RITE

K. WadaJapan Energy MIP Workshop, Jun. 16,
2016

11

Energy Strategies in accord with Global Warming
Mitigation Policy

K. Akimoto

A Lecture on Future Energy Vision ofJapan as a Resourceless Nation in
Wakayama, Jun. 21, 201612

Evaluation of 1.5°C Target by Global Model Comparison Project

K. Akimoto

IPCC WG3 Executive Committee, Jul. 20,
2016

13

Paris Agreement and Future Global Warming Mitigation
K. Akimoto
Strategy

Energy and Environment Education
Seminar (Mihama-cho Board of Education), Aug. 26, 201614

Analysis and Evaluation Case Study for 1.5°C Target
by RITEK. Akimoto

Researchers’ Meeting on “Pursuit ofEfforts to limit to 1.5°C (Paris Agreement)”, Sep. 5, 201615

Expectation for Business Sector towards an Achievement of Paris Agreement

K. WadaThe 12th Japan-Peru Economic Council,
Sep. 12, 2016

16

Energy Mix under the Deregulation of the ElectricPower in JapanK. Akimoto

A Lecture on Future Energy Vision ofJapan as a Resourceless Nation in
Osaka, Sep. 12, 201617

Underlying policies of Nationally Determined Contribution by JapanK. Akimoto

ICEF2016, Oct. 6, 201618

Clarifying Issues on Carbon Pricing - from Quantitative
Data and Analysis -K. Akimoto

Task Force for the Expansion of Inward
Investment under Long-term Global
Warming Countermeasures Platform, Oct.
13, 2016

19

A Review of Micro and Macro-economic Conditions for
Off-grid Integration of Renewable Energies

B. Shoai-Tehrani, K. Akimoto, F. Sano

Workshop of Policy Alternatives ResearchInstitute of the University of Tokyo, Nov. 1,
2016

20

Considering Energy Mix from a viewpoint of Global
Warming Mitigation

K. Akimoto

A Lecture on Future Energy Vision ofJapan as a Resourceless Nation in
Matsuyama, Nov. 8, 2016

21

Energy Mix in accord with Global Warming Mitigation
Policy and Issues towards its Achievement

K. Akimoto

The 11th Environment and Energy
Symposium, Nov. 12, 2016

2016 Paper, Presentation and Publication

RITE

Today

201７

Systems Analysis Group
Title

Researchers

Magazine, Newspaper, etc.

22

Evaluations on the emission reduction efforts of
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

23

Transparency, Policy Surveillance, and the Comparison
J. Aldy, B. Pizer, K. Akimotoof Mitigation Efforts

RFF Discussion Paper, Nov. 201624

A Review of Micro and Macro-economic Conditions for
Off-grid Integration of Renewable Energies

B. Shoai-Tehrani, K. Akimoto, F. Sano

Workshop of Policy Alternatives ResearchInstitute of the University of Tokyo, Dec. 1,
2016

25

Evaluation of a Long-term Target of Paris Agreement
using multiple Socioeconomic Scenarios

K. Akimoto

Innovative Environmental Technology
Symposium, Dec. 7, 2016

26

Future Vision of Global Warming Mitigation and Energy
Policies

K. Akimoto

Seminar on “Mental and Environmental
Issues”, Dec. 7, 201627

Expectation for IPCC in the course of UNFCCC
Process

K. WadaJapan Energy MIP Workshop, Dec. 12,2016

K. Akimoto

COP22 Side Event, Nov. 15, 2016

Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology Group
Original Paper
Title

Researchers

Journal1

Expectations for 100% drop-in green jet fuelA. Watanabe, M. Inui

Kagakukeizai, Vol.62, pp.32-38, 20152

Regulons of global transcription factors in Corynebacterium glutamicum

K. Toyoda, M. InuiAppl. Microbiol. Biotechnol., Vol.100,
pp.45-60, 2016

3

RNase III mediated cleavage of the coding region of
mraZ mRNA is required for efficient cell division in
Corynebacterium glutamicum

T. Maeda, Y. Tanaka, N. Takemoto, N.
Hamamoto, M. Inui

Mol. Microbiol., Vol.99, pp.1149-1166,
2016

4

The extracytoplasmic function σ factor σC regulates
expression of a branched quinol oxidation pathway in
Corynebacterium glutamicum

K. Toyoda, M. Inui

Mol. Microbiol., Vol.100, pp.486-509, 20165

Improving process yield in succinic acid production bycell recycling of recombinant Corynebacterium glutamicum

T. Jojima, R. Noburyu, M. Suda, S.
Okino, H. Yukawa, M. Inui

Fermentation, Vol.2, 5, 2016

6Technology development of phenol production fromplant-derived materials and its future development

H. Miyauchi, M. Inui

Palnt and Process, Vol.58, pp.34-38, 2016

7

Mass production of bio-mass derived phenol“Green-phenol”

H. Miyauchi, M. InuiBIO INDUSTRY, Vol.33, pp.47-54, 20168

R&D for production of 100% drop-in green jet fuelA. Watanabe, T. Jojima, M. Inui

The Piping Engineering Vol.58, pp.6-11,
2016

9

Current state of technology development of biorefineryand its future prospects

M. Inui

Hiroshimahakkokai, Vol.35, pp.11-12,
2016

10

Production of para-aminobenzoate by geneticallyengineered Corynebacterium glutamicum and non-biological formation of an N-glucosyl byproductT. Kubota, A. Watanabe, M. Suda, T.
Kogure, K. Hiraga, M. Inui

Metab. Eng., Vol.38, pp.322-330, 201611

Metabolic engineering of Corynebacterium glutamicum
for shikimate overproduction by growth-arrested cell
reaction

T. Kogure, T. Kubota, M. Suda, K.
Hiraga, M. Inui

Metab. Eng., Vol.38, pp.204-216, 2016

12

Production of green phenol from non-food biomass by
microorganisms

K. Hiraga, M. Inui

Electrical Review, Vol.631, pp.52-53, 201613

Current R&D status of production of green jet fuelA. Watanabe, M. Inui

ELECTRICAL REVIEW, Vol.632, pp.3839, 201614

Shale revolution and bioplastics

K. Inatomi, M. Inui

ELECTRICAL REVIEW, Vol.633, pp.5455, 201615

Development of bio-hydrogen production technology
toward the realization of a hydrogen society

H. Teramoto, M. Inui

ELECTRICAL REVIEW, Vol.634, pp.5253, 2016

Magazine article
Title

Researchers

Magazine, Forum1

1st Laboratory visit, Revolution in chemical industry,
Production of aromatic compounds by microorganisms―

Nikkei Biotechnology & Business,
pp.39-40, Feb. 1, 2016

2

“RITE Bioprocess” to Realize the Clean Production of
Phenol―The Japan Journal, Vo.13, No.1, pp.2627, Apr., 2016

57

2016 Paper, Presentation and Publication

RITE

Today

201７

Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology Group
Oral Presentation (International Academic Society)
Title

Researchers

Forum

1

Aerobic quinol oxidation pathways in Corynebacterium
glutamicum are under the control of the extracytoplasmic function σ factor σC

Koichi Toyoda, Masayuki Inui

The 13th International Symposium on the
Genetics of Industrial Microorganisms(GIM2016), Oct. 18, 2016

2

Metabolic engineering for shikimate overproduction by
Corynebacterium glutamicum with mixed sugar utilizing
ability

Takahisa Kogure, Takeshi Kubota,
Masako Suda, Kazumi Hiraga, Masayuki
Inui

The 13th International Symposium on the
Genetics of Industrial Microorganisms(GIM2016), Oct. 17-19, 20163

Overpoduction of para-aminobenzoate using metabolically engineered Corynebacterium glutamicum

Takeshi Kubota, Akira Watanabe,
Masako Suda, Takahisa Kogure, Kazumi
Hiraga, Masayuki Inui

The 13th International Symposium on the
Genetics of Industrial Microorganisms(GIM2016), Oct. 17-19, 2016

4

Development of Manufacturing Process for Bio-mass
Derived Phenol

Takanobu Masuda, Hiroyuki Miyauchi,
Kazumi Hiraga, Masayuki Inui

The 11th SPSJ International Polymer
Conferences 2016 (IPC2016), Dec. 13,
2016

Oral Presentation (Domestic Academic Society)
Title

ResearchersForum
The 89th Annual Meeting of JapaneseSociety for Bacteriology, Mar. 23-25, 2016

1

Control of RNA degradation by riboswitches

Norihiko Takemoto, Shinya Watanabe,
Yuya Tanaka, Masayuki Inui, Tohru
Miyoshi-Akiyama

2

Identification of the σC regulon in Corynebacterium
glutamicum

Koichi Toyoda, Masayuki Inui

The 2016 Annual Meeting of Japan
Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology andAgrochemistry, Mar. 28, 2016

3

Adaptive Laboratory Evolution conferred tolerance tothermal stress to Corynebacterium glutamicum

Shinichi Oide, Wataru Gunji, Yasuhiro
Moteki, Shogo Yamamoto, Masako
Suda, Toru Jojima, Hideaki Yukawa,
Masayuki Inui

The 2016 Annual Meeting of Japan
Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology andAgrochemistry, Mar. 28, 2016

4

Analysis of expression of ribonuclease J and ribonuclease E/G genes in Corynebacterium glutamicum

Nagisa Hamamoto, Yuya Tanaka,
Norihiko Takemoto, Tomoya Maeda,
Masayuki Inui

The 2016 Annual Meeting of Japan
Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology andAgrochemistry, Mar. 28, 20165

Regulation of the expression of de novo pyrimidine
biosynthesis genes in Corynebacterium glutamicum

Yuya Tanaka, Haruhiko Teramoto,
Masayuki Inui

The 2016 Annual Meeting of Japan
Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology andAgrochemistry, Mar. 28, 2016

6

Engineering Corynebacterium glutamicum for arabinox- Takayuki Kuge, Akira Watanabe,Haruhiko Teramoto, Masayuki Inuiylan utilization

7

Characterization of phenol 2-monooxygenase from
Corynebacterium glutamicum

The 2016 Annual Meeting of Japan
Junya Maeda, Kazumi Hiraga, Takeshi
Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology andKubota, Masayuki Inui
Agrochemistry, Mar. 28, 20168

Production of 4-hydroxybenzoate by Corynebacterium
glutamicum

Kazumi Hiraga, Ryoma Hashimoto,
Yukihiro Kitade, Masako Suda,
Masayuki Inui

The 2016 Annual Meeting of Japan
Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology andAgrochemistry, Mar. 28, 2016

9

Analysis of pfkB1 deletion in Corynebacterium glutamicum that resulted in considerably increase in glucose
consumption and which use for production of usefulchemicals

Satoshi Hasegawa, Yuya Tanaka,
Masako Suda, Toru Jojima, Masayuki
Inui

The 2016 Annual Meeting of Japan
Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology andAgrochemistry, Mar. 28, 201610

Glucose consumption rate critically depends on redox
state in Corynebacterium glutamicum under oxygen
deprivation

Yota Tsuge, Kimio Uematsu, Shogo
Yamamoto, Masako Suda, Masayuki
Inui

68th SBJ Annual Meeting, Sep. 28, 201611

The transcriptional regulatory mechanism of the ldhA
gene encoding lactate dehydrogenase in Corynebacterium glutamicum

Koichi Toyoda, Masayuki Inui

68th SBJ Annual Meeting, Sep. 30, 2016

12

Production of para-aminobenzoic acid by metabolicallyengineered Corynebacterium glutamicum

Takeshi Kubota, Akira Watanabe,
Masako Suda, Takahisa Kogure,
Kazumi Hiraga, Masayuki Inui

68th SBJ Annual Meeting, Sep. 30, 201613

Norihiko Takemoto, Shinya Watanabe,Participation of protein factors in riboswitch based geneYuya Tanaka, Masayuki Inui, Tohru
regulation in bacteria
Miyoshi-Akiyama

The 2016 Annual Meeting of Japan
Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology andAgrochemistry, Mar. 28, 2016

The 39th Annual Meeting of The Molecular Biology Society of Japan, Dec. 1, 2016

Other Oral Presentaion and Non-Journal Publication
Title

58

1

Development of production process for green aromatic
chemicals

2

1st Laboratory visit, Revolution in chemical industry,
Production of aromatic compounds by microorganisms

Researchers

Magazin, Newspaper, etc.
The 11th Conference on Biomass
Science, Jan. 21, 2016

Masayuki Inui―

Nikkei Biotech ONLINE, Feb. 1, 2016

2016 Paper, Presentation and Publication

RITE

Today

201７

Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology Group
Title

Researchers

Magazin, Newspaper, etc.

3

Bioproduction of valuable aromatic chemicals by
Coryneform bacteria -Phenol production from non-foodbiomass-

Kazumi Hiraga

The 36th public meeting of the biotechnical seeds, Feb. 9, 2016

4

Production of biofuels and green chemicals fromnon-food biomass

Masayuki Inui

Symposium by Research Center for
Thermotolerant Microbial Resources of
Yamaguchi University, Mar. 4, 2016

5

Trend and efforts to practical use for biorefinery
technology

Masayuki Inui

GREEN FORUM21, Jul. 4, 2016

6

Bioproduction of phenol and various kinds of chemicals
indispensable for automobile resin parts -Social
application of RITE bioprocess-Kazumi Hiraga

Workshop of "Biotechniques in the future""All kinds of flowers profusion for biomaterials 9" -eco-innovation for containers,
packaging, and distribution-, Jul. 14, 2016

7

Production of biofuels and green chemicals fromnon-food biomass by a growth-arrested bioprocess

Masayuki Inui

Congreso de Microbiologia Industrialy
Biotecnologia Microbiana 2016, Sep. 12,
2016

8

MASAYUKI INUI Instituto de innovación tecnológica deJapón «Japón introducirá biocombustible en la flota
aérea»

Masayuki Inui

DIARIO DE LEÓN ONLINE, Sep. 13,
20169

Present status and future prospects of biofuels andgreen chemicals production from non-food biomass

Masayuki Inui

Hiroshima Fermentation Association,2016 general meeting, Oct. 29, 2016

Chemical Research Group
Original Paper
Title

Researchers

Journal1Highly efficient post-combustion CO2 capture byJunpei Fujiki, Firoz A. Chowdhury,
low-temperature steam-aided vacuum swing adsorption
Hidetaka Yamada, Katsunori Yogousing a novel polyamine-based solid sorbent

2

Potential of Amine-based Solvents for Energy-saving
CO2 Capture from a Coal-fired Power Plant

Kazuya Goto, Firoz A. Chowdhury,
Hidetaka Yamada, Takayuki Higashii

Journal of the Japan Institute of Energy
95, 1133-1141 (2016)

3

Comparison of Solvation Effects on CO2 Capture with
Aqueous Amine Solutions and Amine-Functionalized
Ionic Liquids

Hidetaka Yamada

Journal of Physical Chemistry B
120, 10563-10568 (2016)"

4

Analysis of CO2 absorption behavior of solid sorbent
containing purified components of tetraethylenepentamine

Ryohei Numaguchi, Firoz Alam
Chowdhury, Hidetaka Yamada,Katsunori Yogo

Energy Technology, published online(2016)

5

Sustainable Aspects of Ultimate Reduction of CO2 in
the Steelmaking Process (COURSE50 Project), Part 2:
CO2 Capture

Masami Onoda, Yoichi Matsuzaki,
Firoz A. Chowdhury, Hidetaka
Yamada, Kazuya Goto, Shigeaki
Tonomura

Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy
2, 209-215 (2016)

6

Computational Chemistry Study on the MolecularInteractions for CO2 Loaded Diethylene Glycol,
Triethylene Glycol, and Diethylene Glycol Dimethyl
Ether

Yukihiro Muraki, Ryo Nagumo,
Hidetaka Yamada, Shuichi Iwata,
Hideki Mori

Journal of the Japan Petroleum Institute59, 211-218 (2016)

7

A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study on CO2
Physical Absorption Mechanisms for Ethylene Glycol-Based Solvents using Free Energy Calculations

Ryo Nagumo, Yukihiro Muraki, Shuichi Industrial & Engineering Chemistry
Iwata, Hideki Mori, Hiromitsu Takaba,
Research
Hidetaka Yamada,55, 8200-8206 (2016)8

Modeling of CO2 Solubility in Tertiary Amine Solventsusing pKa

Hiroshi Machida, Shin Yamamoto,
Hidetaka Yamada

Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data61, 2144-2148 (2016)

9

Optimization of a simple technique for preparation ofmonodisperse poly (lactide-co-glycolide) nanospheres

Fuminori Ito

Journal of Nanoparticle Research18, 262-269 (2016)10

Characteristics of OH production by O2/H2O pulsed
dielectric barrier discharge

Shuiliang Yao, Shan Weng, Yi Tang,
Chenwei Zhao, Zuliang Wu, Xuming
Zhang, Shin Yamamoto, Satoshi
KodamaVaccum126, 16–23 (April 2016)

Chemical Engineering Journal
307, 273-282 (2017)

Oral Presentation
Title

Researchers

Forum

1

Advanced CO2 Capture Technologies at RITE (invited)

Takayuki Higashii

The 6th Korea CCS International Conference, Jeju, Korea 27-29 January 2016

2

Chemically Tunable Ionic Liquid-Amine Solutions for
CO2 Capture

Firoz A. Chowdhury, Tsuguhiro Kato

The 6th Korea CCS International Conference, Jeju, Korea 27-29 January 20163

Effect of Carbonic Anhydrase on CO2 Separation
Properties of Poly (amidoamine) Dendrimer/Poly(ethylene glycol) Hybrid Membranes

Teruhiko Kai, Shuhong Duan, Ikuo
Taniguchi, Shingo Kazama

The 10th Coference of Aseanian Membrane Society (AMS10),Nara, Japan
26-29 July 2016

59

2016 Paper, Presentation and Publication

RITE

Today

201７

Chemical Research Group
Title

Researchers

Forum

4

Molecular Dynamics Study on CO2 Solution-Diffusion
Mechanisms in Ethylene Glycol-Based Materials

Yukihiro Muraki, Ryo Nagumo,
Hidetaka Yamada, Shuichi Iwata,
Hideki Mori

The 10th Coference of Aseanian Membrane Society (AMS10),Nara, Japan
26-29 July 2016

5

Calorimetric Study of Absorption of CO2 in AmineBased Solvents

Hidetaka Yamada

22nd International Congress of Chemicaland Process Engineering,Prague, Czech
Republic 27-31 August 2016

6

Development of Novel Amine Solid Sorbents for
Post-Combustion CO2 Capture

Hidetaka Yamada, Junpei Fujiki,
Ryohei Numaguchi, Koji Kida, Firoz A.
Chowdhury, Kazuya Goto, Katsunori
Yogo

11th European Conference on Coal
Research and its Applications, Sheffield,
UK 5-7 September 20167

Influence of Post-combustion CO2 Capture on Energy
performance of a Thermal Power Plant

Kazuya Goto

ASCON-IEEChE 2016,Yokohama, Japan
13-16 November 2016

8

Cost study of high-pressure CO2 capture processes

Takashi Nakamoto, Yusuke Waratani,
Toshinori Muraoka, Shin Yamamoto,
Tsuguhiro KatoASCON-IEEChE 2016,Yokohama, Japan
13-16 November 2016

9

Ryohei Numaguchi, Junpei Fujiki,
13th Conference on Greenhouse Gas
Development of Post-Combustion CO2 Capture System Hidetaka Yamada, Firoz A. Chowdhury,
Control Technologies(GHGT-13), LausUsing Amine-Impregnated Solid Sorbent
Koji Kida, Kazuya Goto, Takeshi Okumura,anne, Switzerland 14-18 November 2016
Katsuhiro Yoshizawa, Katsunori Yogo

10

Development of CO2 molecular gate membrane for
IGCC process with CO2 capture

Teruhiko Kai, Shuhong Duan, Fuminori 13th Conference on Greenhouse Gas
Ito, Satoshi Mikami, Yoshinobu Sato,
Control Technologies(GHGT-13), LausShin-ichi Nakano
anne, Switzerland 14-18 November 201611

Development of Chemical CO2 Solvent for High-Pressure CO2 Capture (3) : Analyses on Absorbed Form of
CO2

Shin Yamamoto, Hidetaka Yamada,
Mitsuhiro Kanakubo, Tsuguhiro Kato

13th Conference on Greenhouse Gas
Control Technologies(GHGT-13), Lausanne, Switzerland 14-18 November 201612

Firoz A. Chowdhury, Kazuya Goto,
Results of RITE’s Advanced Liquid Absorbents Develop Hidetaka Yamada, Yoichi Matsuzaki,
for Low Temperature CO2 Capture
Shin Yamamoto, Takayuki Higashii,
Masami Onoda

13th Conference on Greenhouse Gas
Control Technologies(GHGT-13), Lausanne, Switzerland 14-18 November 2016

Other Oral Presentation and Non-Journal Publication
Title

Researchers

Magazine, Newspaper, etc.

1

Recent Activity of ISO/TC265/WG1 on Capture (invited) Takayuki Higashii

2016 CSLF Annual Meeting in Tokyo,
Japan Technical Group Meeting October
4, 2016

2

Results from CSLF-recognized Project: CO2 Separation
Shin-ichi Nakao
from Pressurized Gas (invited)2016 CSLF Annual Meeting in Tokyo,
Japan Technical Group Meeting October
4, 20163

Development of CO2 Capture Technology by Chemical
Absorption System

Kazuya Goto

2016 CSLF Annual Meeting in Tokyo,
Japan Technical Workshop October 5,2016

4Development of Molecular Gate Membrane for CO2
Capture CSLF Project: CO2 Separation from Pressurized Gas Stream

Teruhiko Kai

2016 CSLF Annual Meeting in Tokyo,
Japan Technical Workshop October 5,2016

5Advanced Development of CO2 Capture by Solid
Sorbents

Junpei Fujiki

2016 CSLF Annual Meeting in Tokyo,
Japan Technical Workshop October 5,
2016

CO2 Storage Research Group
Original Paper
Title

60

Researchers

Journal1

A novel high-pressure vessel for simultaneous observaLanlan Jiang, Osamu Nishizawa, Yi
tions of seismic velocity and in situ CO2 distribution in a
Zhang, Hyuck Park, Ziqiu Xue
porous rock using a medical X-ray CT scanner

Journal of Applied Geophysics 135,
67-76, 2016

2

Observation of Cement/Sandstone Interface after
Reaction with Supercritical CO2 using SEM-EDS,μ-XRD, and μ-Raman Spectroscopy

Kazuhiko Nakano, Saeko Mito, Ziqiu
Xue, Atsushi Ohbuchi

e-Journal of Surface Science andNanotechnology, 14, 198-203, 2016

3

Experimental assessment of well integrity for CO2
geological storage: A numerical study of the geochemical interactions between a CO2-brine mixture and asandstone-cement-steel sample

Joachim Tremosa, Saeko Mito, Pascal
Applied Geochemistry, in print
Audigane, Ziqiu Xue

2016 Paper, Presentation and Publication

RITE

Today

201７

CO2 Storage Research Group
Evaluation of mineral reactive surface area estimatesfor prediction of reactivity of a multi-mineral sediment

Beckingham, L.E., Mitnick, E.H.,
Steefel, C.I., Zhang, S., Voltolini, M.,
Swift, A.M., Yang, L., Cole, D.R.,
Sheets, J.M., Ajo-Franklin, J.B.,
DePaolo, D.J., Mito, S., Xue, Z.

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 188,
310-329, 20165

Evaluation of accessible mineral surface areas for
improved prediction of mineral reaction rates in porous
media

Lauren E. Beckingham, Carl I Steefel,
Alexander M, Swift, Marco Voltolini, Li
Yang, Lawrence Anovitz, Julie M
Sheets, David R Cole, Timothy J
Kneafsey, Elizabeth H Mitnick, Shuo
Zhang, Gautier, Landrot, Jonathan
Ajo-Franklin, Donald J DePaolo,
Saeko Mito, Ziqiu Xue

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta,
Submitted

6Rock physics research with application to CO2 geological storage II: relationship between CO2 saturation andP-wave velocity in a porous sandstone.

Osamu Nishizawa, Yi Zhang, Ziqiu
Xue

BUTSURI-TANSA, 69, 3, 5, p195-214,
2016

7

Depositional environments and characteristics of grain
size and pore-throat size distributions of CO2 storage
Takuma Ito, Takahiro Nakajima, Ziqiu
aquifer as a controlling factor of injectivity: a case study Xueof the Nagaoka site, Japan

Journal of Sedimentological Society ofJapan, 75,3-15, 20168

Rock physics research with application to CO2 geological storage I: CO2 behavior in capillary-dominatedregion and effects of multi-scale heterogeneity on CO2
trapping

Osamu Nishizawa, Yi Zhang, Takuma
Ito, Ziqiu Xue, Tetsuya Kogure,
Tamotsu Kiyama

BUTSURI-TANSA, 69, 127-147, 2016

9

XRF Analysis of Sediment Cores from the Nagaoka
CO2 Injection Site using the Pressed Powder Pellet
Method Combined with Fundamental Parameter
MethodKazuhiko Nakano, Takuma Ito, Atsushi Adv. X-Ray. Chem. Anal., Japan, submitted
Ohbuchi, Ziqiu Xue

10

Effects of fluid displacement pattern on complex
electrical impedance in Berea sandstone over frequency range 10000–1000000 Hz

Yi Zhang, Hyuck Park, Osamu
Nishizawa, Tamotsu Kiyama, Yu Liu,
Kwangseok Chae, Ziqiu Xue

Geophysical Prospecting, DOI: 10.1111/13
65-2478.12451

11

Long term CO2 plume behavior calibrated by 10 years
monitoring data at the Nagaoka site

Takahiro Nakajima, Takuma Ito, Ziqiu
Xue

Greenhouse Gases: Science andTechnology, submitted

12

Identification of natural gamma-ray source in shallow-marine siliciclastic strata and its significance forassessing reservoir quality: a case study of the CO2
storage aquifer at the Nagaoka site, Japan.

Takuma Ito, Atsushi Ohbuchi, Takahiro
Nakajima, Ziqiu Xue

Journal of Natural Gas Science andEngineering. submitted

13

Different flow behavior between 1-to-1 displacement
and co-injection of CO2 and brine in Berea sandstone:
insights from laboratory experiments with X-ray CT
imaging

Yi Zhang, Tetsuya Kogure, Osamu
Nishizawa, Ziqiu Xue

International Journal of Greenhouse Gas
Control. Submitted

14

Pathway-flow relative permeability of CO2: measurement by lowering pressure drop

Yi Zhang, Osamu Nishizawa, Hyuck
Park, Ziqiu Xue

Water Resource Research. Submitted

15

Optical fiber sensing the deformation of rock caused by
fluid front migration

Yi Zhang, Ziqiu Xue, Hyuck Park,
Tamotsu Kiyama,

Nature Geoscience, submitted

16

CO2 leakage detection using partial pressure of CO2
and dissolved oxygen at offshore CO2 storage sites

Keisuke Uchimoto, Takamichi
Nakamura, Makoto Nishimura, Jun Kita,
Ziqiu Xue

International Journal of Greenhouse Gas
Control, submitted

17

Active acoustic sonar detectability of gas bubbles onshallow seafloor for environmental monitoring at
offshore CO2 storage sites

Takamichi Nakamura, Keisuke
Uchimoto, Makoto Nishimura, Yuji
Watanabe, Ziqiu Xue

International Journal of Greenhouse Gas
Control, submitted

4

Non-Journal Publication
Title

Researchers

Magazine, Newspaper, etc.

1

Trapping mechanism of CO2 storage

Saeko Mito

Electrical Review, Jun 2016

2

CO2 fixation technology

Ziqiu Xue

Journal of Environmental coservationengineering, 45, 4, 2016

3

Simulation of leaked CO2 in the sea for marine environmental impact assessment

Keisuke Uchimoto

Electrical Review, Jun 2016

4

Geological storage of CO2 and deep biosphere,
geomicrobiology

Takamichi Nakamura

Electrical Review, Jul 2016

61

2016 Paper, Presentation and Publication

RITE

Today

201７

CO2 Storage Research Group
Oral Presentation (International Conference)
Title

Researchers

Forum

1

Tomakomai demonstration project, Japan and its
collaboration opportunities

Jun Kita

British Geological Survey(BGC) Keyworth.
Mar 2, 2016

2

Nagaoka Project, Japan, and its collaboration opportunities

Ryozo Tanaka

International Workshop on Offshore
Geological CO2 Storage. Apr 19, 20163

How to reach an offshore injection phase, Japan casestudy

Ryozo Tanaka

International Workshop on Offshore
Geological CO2 Storage. Apr 19, 20164

How to do environmental monitoring offshore, Japancase study

Jun Kita

International Workshop on Offshore
Geological CO2 Storage. Apr 19, 2016

5

A reactive transport modelling at the Nagaoka pilot-scale CO2 injection site

Saeko Mito, Ziqiu Xue

Goldschmidt2016, Jul 1, 2016

6

Experimental study on capillary trapping characteristics
in porous media for CO2 geological storage

Lanlan Jiang, Ziqiu Xue, Hyuck Park,
Yongchen SongAOGS(Asia Oceania Geoscience Society)meeting2016, Aug 2, 20167

1.Long-term sea water monitoring in coastal Japanesewaters 2. Modelling marine impact

Jun Kita

Combined Meeting of the IEAGHG
Modelling and Monitoring Networks, Jul 6,
2016

8

Optimization Study of Seismic Monitoring Network at
the CO2 Injection Site – Lessons Learnt from Monitoring Experiment at the Cranfield Site, Mississippi, U. S.
A.

Makiko Takagishi, Tsutomu Hashimoto,13th International Conference on GreenTetsuma Toshioka, Shigeo Horikawa,house Gas Control Technologies, GHGTKinichiro Kusunose, Ziqiu Xue, Susan D.
13, Lausanne, Switzerland, Nov 17, 2016
Hovork9

Geological reservoir characterization and modeling of a
Takuma Ito, Takahiro Nakajima, Ziqiu
CO2 storage aquifer: A case study of the Nagaoka site,
Xue
Japan

13th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies, GHGT13, Lausanne, Switzerland, Nov 17, 201610

Trapping mechanisms in field scale: Results from
Nagaoka geologic CO2 storage site

Takahiro Nakajima, Ziqiu Xue

13th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies, GHGT13, Lausanne, Switzerland, Nov 17, 201611

Numerical simulation of the CO2 behavior to obtain adetailed site characterization: A case study at Nagaoka
pilot-scale injection site

Takahiro Nakajima, Takuma Ito, Ziqiu
Xue

13th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies, GHGT13, Lausanne, Switzerland, Nov 17, 201612

13th International Conference on GreenA novel method to detect CO2 leak in offshore storage:
focusing on relationship between dissolved oxygen and Keisuke Uchimoto, Jun Kita, Ziqiu Xue house Gas Control Technologies, GHGT13, Lausanne, Switzerland, Nov 17, 2016
partial pressure of CO2 in the sea

13

Geomechanical monitoring of caprock and wellbore
integrity using fiber optic cable: Strain measurementfrom the fluid injection and extraction field tests

Ziqiu Xue, Tsutomu Hashimoto

13th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies, GHGT13, Lausanne, Switzerland, Nov 17, 201614

Research and development of a permanent OBC
system for time-lapse seismic survey and microseismic
monitoring at the offshore CO2 storage sites

Ziqiu Xue, Tetsuma Toshioka, Naoshi
Aoki, Yoshiaki Kawabe, Daiji Tanase

13th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies, GHGT13, Lausanne, Switzerland, Nov 17, 201615

Self-sealing of wellbore cement under the CO2 batch
experiment using well composite sample

Kazuhiko Nakano, Saeko Mito, Ziqiu
Xue

13th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies, GHGT13, Lausanne, Switzerland, Nov 17, 2016

16

Availability of a simplified coarse grid model for history
matching at the Nagaoka post-injection CO2 monitoringsite

Saeko Mito, Ziqiu Xue

13th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies, GHGT13, Lausanne, Switzerland, Nov 17, 2016

Oral Presentation (Domestic Conference)
Title

62

Researchers

Forum

1

Estimation of supercritical CO2 threshold pressure by
the mercury intrusion method and direct method

Tamotsu Kiyama, Ziqiu Xue

Japan Geoscience Union Meeting 2016,
May 24,2016

2

Visualization and measurement of CO2 flooding inheterogeneous sedimentary rock

Hyuck Park, Lanlan Jiang, Tamotsu
Kiyama, Osamu Nishizawa, Yi Zhang,
Ryo Ueda, Masanori Nakano, Ziqiu
Xue

Japan Geoscience Union, May 24. 2016

3

An Experiment study on dynamic displacement andnon-equilibrium dissolution for CO2 in porous media

Lanlan Jiang, Ziqiu Xue, Hyuck
Park,Yongchen SongJapan Geoscience Union, May 24. 2016

4

Development of geological model using core-well-seismic integration technique at the Nagaoka CO2 storagesite, Japan

Takuma Ito, Takahiro Nakajima, Ziqiu
Xue

Japan Geoscience Union, May 24. 2016

5

Simulation study on trapping processes of CO2 at
Nagaoka pilot projectHajime Yamamoto, Takahiro Nakajima,
Japan Geoscience Union, May 24. 2016
Ziqiu Xue

6

A study on seismic stability safety evaluation of the caprock for geological CO2 storage using non-linear
dynamic response analysis

Shigeo Horikawa, Takeshi Sasaki,
Naohide Takada, Tsutomu Hashimoto,
Takahiro Nakajima, ZiqiuXue

Japan Geoscience Union, May 24. 2016

2016 Paper, Presentation and Publication

RITE

Today

201７

CO2 Storage Research Group
Title

Researchers

Forum

7

Construction of an integrated geological modelcharacterized by a seismic survey data and chalibrated Takahiro Nakajima, Takuma Ito, Ziqiu
by log-based monitoring data: A case study at Nagaoka Xue, Shun Chiyonobu
CO2 injection site

8

Numerical study mitigation of pressure build-up
mitigation by production of formation water during CO2
injection

CLAUDIA FUJITA, Yusuke Hiratsuka,
Hajime Yamamoto, Takahiro Nakajima, Japan Geoscience Union, May 24. 2016
Ziqiu Xue

9

Development of acoustic methods for detection of CO2
leakage from sub-seabed storage site

Takamichi Nakamura, Makoto
Nishimura, Keisuke Uchimoto

Japan Geoscience Union, May 24. 201610

A numerical model for calculating the behavior ofleaked CO2 in the sea for assessing the potential
impacts on the marine environment

Keisuke Uchimoto, Yoshimasa
Matsumura, Jun Kita

Japan Geoscience Union, May 24. 201611

Application of Sequentially Discounting AR Learning(SDAR) Algorithm to Real-time Event Detection

Makiko Takagishi, Tetsuma Toshioka,
Akira Narita, Nobuhiro Furuse, Ziqiu
Xue

Japan Geoscience Union, May 24. 2016

12

Incentives for operational CCS projects in the World

Ryozo Tanaka

Japan Geoscience Union, May 24. 2016

13

Compilation of Best Practice Manuals toward CCS
commercialization

Hironobu Komaki, Michimasa Magi,
Atsushi Ibusuki, Osamu Takano, Ziqiu
Xue

Japan Geoscience Union, May 24. 201614

Geomechanical monitoring of caprock and wellbore
integrity using fiber optic cable

Ziqiu Xue,Tsutomu Hashimoto

Japan Geoscience Union, May 24. 201615

Simulation study on trapping processes at the Nagaoka Hajime Yamamoto, Takahiro Nakajima, Japan Society of Civil Engineers 2016
Ziqiu Xue
Annual Meeting, Sep 8. 2016
geological CO2 storage project16

Evaluation of pressure build-up at a geological CO2
storage sites and study of pressure mitigation method

Craudia Fujita, Yusuke Hiratsuka,
Japan Society of Civil Engineers 2016
Hajime Yamamoto, Takahiro Nakajima,
Annual Meeting, Sep 8. 2016
Ziqiu Xue

17

Comparison between spectral gamma-ray and geochemical features of the shallow-marine siliciclastic
strata: as a case study of the Nagaoka site, Japan

Takuma Ito, Kazuhiko Nakano, Atsushi
Geological Society of Japan, Sep 12.
Ohbuchi, Takahiro Nakajima, Ziqiu
2016
Xue

18

Preparation for inhomogeneous samples in XRF
analysis

Hikari Takahara, Astushi Ohbuchi,
Takao Moriyama, Kazuhiko Nakano
and Kensuke Murai

The 52nd Annual Conference on X-Ray
Chemical Analysis, Oct 27. 201619

Trial for modelling of microbial behavior that responded
to elevated CO2 in marine sediment

Takamichi Nakamura, Masaru
Akiyama

2016 Japanese Society of Microbial
Ecology annual meeting, Oct 23. 2016

Japan Geoscience Union, May 24. 2016

Inorganic Membranes Research Center
Original Paper
Researchers

Journal1

Preparation and gas permeation properties on puresilica CHA-type zeolite Membranes

Title

Koji Kida, Yasushi Maeta, Katsunori
Yogo

Journal of Membrane Science, Vol.522,
pp.363-370,2017

2

Application of MFI Zeolite Membrane Prepared with
Fluoride Ions to Hydrogen/Toluene Separation

Izumi Kumakiri, Lingfang Qiu, Bo Liu,
Kazuhiro Tanaka, Hidetoshi Kita,
Takashi Saito, Ryoichi Nishida

Journal of Chemical Engineering ofJapan, Vol.49, No.8, pp.753-755, 2016

Oral Presentation
Title
1

Development of Practical Membrane Reactores for
Dehydrogenating Methylcyclohexane to Supply
High-purity Hydrogen

Researchers
Ryoichi Nishida, Emi Matsuyama,
Ryohei Numaguchi, Hiromi Urai,
Shin-ichi Nakano

Forum
21th World Hydrogen Energy Conference
2016, June 14, 2016

Non-Journal Publication
1

Title

Researchers

Synthesis of MFI Zeolite Membranes in Fluoride Mediaand Their Applications for Hydrogen Separation

I.Kumakiri, L.Qui, B.Liu, K.Tanaka, H.
Kita, T.Saito, R.Nishida

Magazine, Newspaper, etc.
The 10th Conference of AseanianMembrane Society, July 27, 2016

632017 Vol.12