Japan Carbon Frontier Organization (JCOAL) and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, or KHI (TYO: 7012), have inaugurated a demonstration facility at the Wyoming Integrated Test Center (Wyoming ITC), aimed at evaluating the efficiency and environmental impact of KHI’s solid sorbent technology for large-scale carbon capture.
The project, located approximately 10 miles north of the city of Gillette, harnesses coal-based flue gas from the Dry Fork coal-fired power plant, local media source County 17 reported Monday.
KHI’s approach to absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2) consumes less heat than traditional amine-based systems, making it more energy-efficient.
Shane Miller, project manager at Dallas-based infrastructure consulting firm AECOM (NYSE: ACM), emphasized the significance of Wyoming’s commitment to both environmental preservation and job protection, contrasting it with national government gridlock.
Prefabrication of equipment and collaborative efforts among KHI, the Wyoming ITC, and subcontractors ensured the project’s timely completion, Miller was quoted as saying.
The project is transportable by road and designed to function in various weather conditions except for extremely cold temperatures.
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Yutaro Hara, assistant manager of KHI Energy Solution Business Division Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Sequestration Section, noted that the system can operate at temperatures above -22°F.
During his speech at the inauguration, U.S. Senator John Barrasso, R-WY, underscored the importance of innovation in enhancing energy security, economic strength, and environmental sustainability, County 17 said.
Tomohiko Sugimoto, general manager of KHI Energy Solution Business Division, said that the next phase of the project, which dates back to 2021, will involve environmental impact testing.
Sugimoto aspires to see this technology adopted globally, contributing to carbon neutrality efforts in the US, Japan, and beyond.
The project was commissioned by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment, stemming from a 2016 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that pledged collaboration between the State of Wyoming and JCOAL in coal research, trade, and carbon capture technology development.
Read more: Wyoming, JCOAL, And Kawasaki Heavy Industries To Partner On Carbon Capture Test Project
