MHI Marine Machinery Begins Testing Methane Oxidation Catalyst for LNG Engines

This month, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Marine Machinery & Equipment Co., Ltd. (MHI-MME) began demonstration testing for a methane oxidation catalyst system for LNG-fueled marine vessels in cooperation with KEYS Bunkering West Japan Ltd. (KEYS). The testing involves installing the demonstration equipment on the LNG bunkering vessel KEYS Azalea, owned and operated by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.

The marine vessels are being jointly developed with Daihatsu Infinearth Mfg. Co., Ltd.

The demonstration test's catalyst system oxidizes slip methane (unburned methane) in marine engine exhaust gas. The methane oxidation catalyst system was developed with MHI-MME's catalyst design and manufacturing technology at its core, integrated with Mitsubishi Shipbuilding's shipboard installation technology and Daihatsu Infinearth's engine optimization technology. Since the onshore engine test has verified an initial methane oxidation rate of 70% or higher, the demonstration testing will be conducted continuously for one year.

KEYS Azalea, an LNG bunkering vessel equipped with the demonstration system; credit: MHI

Last week, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) installed, commissioned, and kick-started a CO2-capture pilot plant at Kansai Electric Power’s (KEPCO) Himeji no. 2 power station in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Using MHI’s Kansai Mitsubishi Carbon Dioxide Recovery process (KM CDR), the pilot will extract CO₂ from Himeji’s gas turbine-produced flue stream, allowing MHI to conduct additional research and development for carbon-capture technologies.

KEPCO’s power plant currently captures approximately 5 tons of CO₂ per day, with the next-generation pilot project expected to increase the CO₂-capture rate following demonstration. MHI also installed its ΣSynX Supervision remote monitoring system to monitor and collect pilot data. With the pilot, MHI looks to:

• Strengthen its carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) business
• Accelerate R&D for minimizing environmental footprint and lowering costs
• Enable additional demonstration tests with new equipment
• Adhere to MISSION NET ZERO—an initiative to decarbonize both energy supply and demand by 2040

KEPCO and MHI have partnered on the research and development of CO₂-capture technologies since 1990. With this pilot project, they will respond quickly to customers’ requirements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and comply with environmental regulations.

Earlier this year, MHI also deployed its carbon-capture technology—the KM CDR Process—to remove approximately 25,000 tons of CO2 per year at a fully operational post-combustion carbon capture plant. The facility, located in Ravenna, Italy, is part of the Ravenna Carbon Capture and Storage (Ravenna CCS) project launched by Eni and Snam.

“What MHI's carbon capture technology has achieved through this project marks a milestone and paves the way for future carbon emission reductions across the industry,” said Tatsuto Nagayasu, MHI's Senior Vice President of Green Transformation Solutions. “It also supports the CCUS goals set by Italy and Europe. The successful deployment of our CO2 capture technology at Europe's first fully operational post-combustion carbon capture plant for CO2 storage demonstrates the versatility and effectiveness of our technology. Through partnerships like these, we are strengthening MHI's position in carbon-capture solutions and driving the global energy transition forward.”