Carbon recycling: A new way to fight global warming

An initiative of "carbon recycling" that suppresses CO2 emissions by treating CO2 as a resource, separating and recovering it, and reusing it for various products and fuels. We gave an overview of carbon recycling and expected usage methods, but various efforts have been made since then. This time, let’s introduce the current state of carbon recycling.

Growing "Carbon Recycling Industry"

“ One of the keys to achieving this is "carbon recycling." Not only can it directly contribute to CO2 reduction, but it can also be expected to utilize and synergize with hydrogen and renewable energy.

In addition, carbon recycling, which makes effective use of CO2 as a resource, can be tackled in various business fields such as chemistry, cement, machinery, engineering, fossil fuels, and biotechnology. If we promote cost reduction and social implementation, we may be able to make it world wide. For these reasons, carbon recycling is positioned as a "key technology for realizing a carbon-neutral society".

Carbon recycling is a concept that can be applied to all fields, and various industries that can be called the "carbon recycling industry" are growing. The fields are diverse, from basic research to products that are familiar to our daily lives.

Carbon recycling concept.

The main areas are minerals such as concrete products and structures made by absorbing CO2, fuels such as biofuels made from algae cultivated with CO2, and chemical products such as plastic raw materials made by "artificial photosynthesis". In addition to these, technological developments for utilizing CO2 are underway in various fields.

Regarding the technology related to CO2 separation and recovery, which is important for realizing carbon recycling, equipment for separating and recovering high-concentration CO2 from power plants has already entered the demonstration stage for chemical applications. Japanese companies boast the top share in the track record of CO2 capture plants. In addition, technology development for Direct Air Capture, a so-called DAC, which directly captures CO2 from the atmosphere, has begun in so many countries.

Bases, funds, international conferences ... Efforts to popularize carbon recycling

The major challenges at this point in carbon recycling are increasing productivity and reducing costs. In any industrial sector, the cost of products made with carbon recycling technology must be reduced to the same level as existing products before they can be distributed on a large scale in the market. In addition, it is necessary to expand the sales channels of products that have already been completed as products from the current limited market. In order to solve these various issues, it is indispensable to collaborate not only with companies but also with industry, government. Therefore, various efforts have started with the aim of establishing carbon recycling technology and popularizing products.

Carbon Recycling Related Researches

• coal-fired power generation
• Carbon capturing and separation
• Hydrogen Energy Research Field

Many of the technologies expected as carbon recycling technologies require hydrogen.

International cooperation on carbon recycling

Considering the expansion of the carbon recycling market, it is important to consider not only domestic but also overseas cooperation. Japan and the United States signed a new memorandum of cooperation on carbon recycling. In addition to this, some international cooperation has begun.

Various "carbon recycled" products that are being put to practical use

Finally, let’s look at some practical examples:

• Concrete that absorbs CO2

• Making personal computers and DVDs using CO2 as a raw material
• CO2 is also used for cosmetic containers

• Recycling bottles, cans, and newspapers is on any short list of simple actions for a cleaner environment. If only it were as easy to collect and reuse carbon dioxide—that greenhouse gas waste product that the world is generating in huge volume each day by burning fossil fuels.
  In fact, a handful of start-up companies and researchers are aiming to do just that.
  Recycling carbon dioxide is a great deal more involved than setting out separate bins for glass, aluminum, and paper. But many scientists believe that it is not only worth the effort, but a crucial endeavor. The climate change threat to the planet is now so great, they argue, that any effort to address the problem will have to include so-called "carbon negative" technologies. That means actually sucking the greenhouse gas out of the atmosphere and doing something productive with it.
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