Simon Allison, Vice President – Asia Pacific, Xodus. Image courtesy: Xodus

Global energy consultancy Xodus has been awarded a significant contract to support the development of one of Japan’s first large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) hubs.

The Offshore Western Kyushu CCS project, a cornerstone of Japan’s ambitious goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, aims to substantially reduce carbon emissions across key industrial sectors.

Xodus will collaborate with a consortium comprising West Japan Carbon Dioxide Storage Survey Co., Ltd. (WEST), ENEOS Corporation, Electric Power Development Co., Ltd. (J-Power), and ENEOS Xplora Inc.

This partnership follows a consignment contract between the consortium and the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC), a government agency overseeing CCS development.

Under the contract, Xodus will design pipeline and cable geotechnical surveys crucial for the project’s infrastructure. Simon Allison, Vice President for Asia Pacific at Xodus, expressed pride in contributing to this pioneering initiative, emphasising the company’s commitment to supporting Japan’s net-zero ambitions.

The Offshore Western Kyushu CCS project targets the capture and storage of approximately 1.7 million tonnes of CO2 annually from ENEOS’s oil refineries and J-POWER’s thermal power plants in the Setouchi and Kyushu regions.

The captured emissions will be transported via ships and pipelines to saline aquifers off Japan’s south-western Kyushu Island for permanent storage.

Celeste Koravos, Japan Country Manager at Xodus, highlighted that the project will leverage the company’s integrated team of experts across Asia-Pacific, including Australian CCS specialists and local Japanese staff, to create a tailored approach for Japan’s unique characteristics.

The project is part of JOGMEC’s Japanese Advanced CCS Projects initiative, which selected nine projects earlier this fiscal year.

It follows the Japanese government’s passage of the Act on Carbon Dioxide Storage Business in May 2024, a significant step towards CCS commercialisation in the country.

Currently in its feasibility study phase, the project is expected to move into its second phase within this fiscal year.

This next stage will encompass engineering design, exploratory drilling preparations, procurement of long-lead items, and a detailed evaluation of storage potential.

The Offshore Western Kyushu CCS initiative is a key component of Japan’s strategy to establish a comprehensive CCS value chain by 2030, covering CO2 separation, capture, transport, and storage.

This project not only demonstrates Japan’s commitment to reducing industrial carbon emissions but also positions the country at the forefront of large-scale CCS implementation.