IHI to initiate investigation and study to integrate microalgae based bio jet fuel supply scheme in aim for commercialization
IHI Group and Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. have initiated investigation and study to integrate microalgae based bio jet fuel supply scheme.
Since FY2017, IHI Group has operated, in partnership with Kobe University (Pres.: Hiroshi Takeda), the NEDO (*1) supported R&D project “Development of Production Technologies for Bio jet fuels / Pilot scale test on once through production process” to produce algae-based biofuel, using hyper-growth Botryococcus braunii (*2).
In addition to the ongoing R&D project, IHI Group will work in collaboration with Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. to identify issues and countermeasures upon integration of bio jet fuel supply scheme, from shipping to fueling a blended fuel of neat bio jet derived from microalgae and Showa Shell’ Sekiyu K.K.’s petroleum based jet.
In NEDO-supported R&D project, IHI Group completed construction of pilot scale microalgae cultivation plant which occupies 10,000 square meter scale pilot cultivation, and has started the operation.
IHI aims to contribute in reducing CO2 emission from jet fuel by extensive work on the microalgae derived bio jet fuel from R&D to supply scheme integration.
Pilot scale test facility in Thailand
| (*1) | New Energy Industrial Technology Development Organization (Chairman; Hiroaki Ishizuka) |
| (*2) | Hyper-growth Botryococcus is the strain of algae that is uniquely featured with exceptionally high growth rate and high hydrocarbon oil content, which is anticipated as alternative to fossil derived oil. |
〈Pilot scale test facility〉
Construction site: Thailand Saraburi Province (within the site owned by Siam Cement Group)