U.S-Japan CCUS/Carbon Recycling Working Group Held

1. Background

On Friday, October 11, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), together with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), co-hosted the U.S.-Japan CCUS/Carbon Recycling Working Group at The Westin Hotel Tokyo with the participation of public and private sector stakeholders. This is the fourth meeting of the WG, positioned as one of the cooperation areas in the "U.S.-Japan Clean Energy and Energy Security Initiative (CEESI),” which was established in May 2022 as the preeminent U.S.-Japan ministerial-level energy dialogue.

2. Overview

(1) U.S.-JAPAN CCUS/Carbon Recycling WG

In the WG, participants shared information on policy updates in the carbon management field, the need for further promotion of bilateral cooperative projects and deployment of technologies around the globe, including to the Asia-Pacific region. 

In the CCUS/Carbon Recycling area, the participants shared the progress of projects by businesses in both countries in various areas, such as e-methane, as well as the need to ensure traceability. In addition, the participants shared current studies on the assessment of environmental values and confirmed the importance of such assessment efforts to promote the dissemination of carbon recycling.

Regarding CCS, the US side shared the status of a feasibility study on a cross-border CO2 transport and storage hub between Alaska and Japan, based on a commitment between the US and Japanese leaders. Participants also confirmed the progress of the study between the private sectors in both countries on cross-border CO2 transport and storage between Alaska and Japan.

The participants also shared information on CDR (Carbon dioxide removal) technologies such as DAC (direct air capture), and agreed to accelerate their efforts to demonstrate, develop business models, and establish supply chains for these important carbon-negative technologies.

The participants also discussed the acceleration of efforts in the Carbon Management Challenge, which aims to achieve the global CO2 capture of 1 Gigaton per year by 2030.

Japan shared its efforts to share achievements in technology development and knowledge of institution building through AZEC and the Asia CCUS Network Forum, and both countries confirmed that they will work together to expand carbon management efforts worldwide.

(2) Release of a Business Cooperation Document on CCS in Alaska

After the meeting, Sumitomo Corporation, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, and Hilcorp released a memorandum of cooperation for the implementation of a feasibility study of cross-border CCS for Alaska in the presence of U.S. DOE and METI.

Division in Charge

International Strategy on Energy Resources Office, Natural Resources and Fuel Department, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy
(Carbon Management Division, Natural Resources and Fuel Department, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy)