Initiatives for Carbon Neutrality
Roadmap to GHG emissions reduction
Toward carbon neutrality in 2050, we will streamline our businesses, increase efficiency, save energy, switch to gas fuels (high-efficiency co-generation system), and product manufacturing that utilizes our own hydroelectric power generation and renewable energy until 2030. From 2030 onward, we plan to actively promote fuel conversion and mixed combustion to ammonia and hydrogen, aiming toward 2050. To achieve these targets, we will set targets and formulate and implement reduction measures in each business unit. We will also implement companywide measures led by the Carbon Neutrality Project, and set reduction targets based on scientific evidence. In addition, we have created a new roadmap for switching to renewable energy, with the goal of covering 100% of the electricity used in our businesses with renewable energy. In addition, we will achieve carbon neutrality through CO2 separation and capture technologies and the use of recovered CO2 as raw materials for chemical products.
Initiatives for carbon neutrality
High-efficiency co-generation system
The Resonac Group has installed in-house thermal power generation systems with the boiler and the steam turbine designed so as to ensure the efficient supply of electricity and heat (steam) energy sourced from fossil fuels. This is to allow the energy to be used effectively for each of the different production processes, such as heating and distillation, at chemical plants. Also, this off-grid power supply function represents an essential BCP item at chemical plants in preparation for the contingency of a power outage.
We will upgrade the above in-house thermal power generation systems so as to serve our carbon neutrality initiatives. The plan consists of two steps. In the first step, we will introduce a state-of-the-art high-efficiency gas turbine co-generation system, among others, to improve overall energy efficiency, and then switch to fuels with lower CO2 emissions per calorie in an effort to promote lower-emission operations. These measures involve conversion from solid to liquid fuels, which will effect a significant reduction of CO2 emissions, thereby contributing to environmental conservation.
The second step is the planned adoption of co-firing systems based on carbon-free ammonia and other fuels as well as of carbon capture utilization (CCU) and other carbon recycling processes, aiming for carbon neutrality.
Promotion/expansion of chemical recycling
In order to facilitate carbon neutrality in the chemicals industry, it is imperative, along with increasing energy use efficiency, to reduce the use of fossil resources, a leading raw material for many chemical products, as exemplified by plastics. In Japan, a reported 70% of used plastics are incinerated, resulting in CO2 emissions, including for the purpose of heat recovery.
Among a number of proposed solutions to this issue, chemical recycling—referring to the reuse of plastic waste as a raw material for chemical products—is drawing broad attention.
The Resonac Group is already engaged in plastic chemical recycling for ammonia and hydrogen manufacturing. Based on the practical knowledge on plastic waste utilization that has been cultivated through past operations, we are ramping up R&D activities to expand the application of chemical recycling capabilities. Specific plans are discussed for adopting recycled plastics to manufacture ethylene, propylene and other substances used as raw materials for plastics and many other types of organic chemical products in place of petroleum naphtha, a primary conventional option.
We are striving to raise the chemical recycling rate to the extent possible, overcoming limitations related to dirt and impurities, with the aim of achieving fossil-free chemicals production, which represents a significant stride toward a carbon neutral society. We will accelerate our efforts to introduce the results of the above activities to the market as early as possible to broaden the range of applicable products that support a recycling-oriented, carbon neutral society, thus fulfilling our social responsibility as a chemicals manufacturer.
TOPICSIntellectual Property on Chemical Recycling Technology
The Resonac Group takes a proactive approach to intellectual property on our chemical recycling technologies, centering on the Kawasaki Plastic Recycle (KPR) process for which we own a patent concerning the “gasification furnace operating method to reduce slag viscosity (international application number PCT/JP2020/047249).” We are building a solid patent portfolio across the entire process of chemical recycling, while making strategic IP investments aimed to underpin our sustainable business development.