Japanese upstream company Inpex plans to enhance its hydrogen business to achieve a 2050 net-zero carbon emissions goal, by utilising carbon dioxide capture, utilisation and storage technology in its upstream projects.
Inpex said it wants to break down natural gas into hydrogen and carbon dioxide (CO2) to supply hydrogen as carbon-free energy.
The company also aims to explore the use of CO2, including production of methane. It is considering shifting its core business to hydrogen from upstream development “when its use becomes more common”.
Inpex said it is also considering providing LNG as a raw material of hydrogen instead as a fuel in the future.
As part of this it plans to examine the feasibility of carbon capture and storage at its Ichthys LNG terminal in Australia. The firm has been trialling a methanation plant manufacturing methane from hydrogen and CO2 at Japan’s northern prefecture Niigata since October 2019.
Inpex also aims to enhance its renewable energy business, including geothermal and offshore wind power, preserve forests and reduce gas flaring at its operating sites to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
This plan is in line with Japan’s 2050 net-zero greenhouse gas emissions goal, pledged by the country’s new prime minister Yoshihide Suga.
For more information visit www.inpex.co.jp/english/
