Sumitomo Corporation (President and CEO: Susumu Kato; Head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo;), together with Renaissance Energy Research Corporation (President: Osamu Okada; Head office: Osaka-shi, Osaka), will begin full-scale development and market exploration of a new carbon dioxide permselective membrane technology developed by Renaissance, with a view to its commercialization.

 

This technology can be used to separate carbon dioxide from other gases by passing it through the membrane. Chemical absorption, the conventional method used to separate CO2 in hydrogen production, requires a considerable amount of steam. By using the CO2 permselective membrane, the amount of steam can be drastically reduced, resulting in substantial energy savings. Furthermore, modularizing the hollow CO2 permselective membranes makes the process more efficient and allows the capture of CO2 in less space than is required with the chemical absorption method. In total, the steam reduction can bring energy consumption down to one-fifth of that of the conventional technology, with less space required for installation.

 

This technology can be applied to petroleum refining, which demands huge amounts of hydrogen, as well as to hydrogen production processes undertaken at chemical plants. It is estimated that these processes are currently in operation at about 40 locations in Japan, with the number of sites around the world being 50 times that, providing abundant business opportunities.

 

Having recognized the innovativeness of the CO2 permselective membrane, Sumitomo Corporation will begin full-scale technical development and market exploration with the aim of commercializing the technology. At first, we will target petroleum refining and hydrogen production at chemical plants. We are planning to install a prototype system at the plant of a Japanese client by early 2010 and grow the module as we evaluate and improve the prototype. We will also introduce the technology at the World Future Energy Summit 2010 to be held in Abu Dhabi in January 2010 with the hope of developing a market in the Middle East, which has a number of potential buyers in the petroleum and chemical related industries.

 

The technology also has the potential to be utilized in carbon capture and storage (CCS), which is considered to be a promising means of dealing with CO2 emissions. The carbon capture part of CCS accounts for about 60% of the entire cost. Further development of the CO2 permselective membrane technology is therefore expected to lead to drastic cost reductions for power plants in the future.

 

Under this project, we will explore the market while at the same time supporting the development of this promising technology. We expect the project will not only facilitate considerable energy savings in hydrogen production but will also contribute to providing effective solutions, including in relation to CCS, to global warming. This initiative is taken in line with the strategic direction of Sumitomo Corporation's environmental solutions business, which is aimed at achieving a sustainable, low-carbon society.

 

• About Renaissance

Company name	:	Renaissance Energy Research Corporation
Address	:	7-7-2810, Koraibashi 1 chome, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Establishment	:	July 2004
Representative	:	Osamu Okada (President)
Business	:	- Sales and licensing of catalyst/process technologies mainly in the energy and hydrogen fields
		- Development of CO2 permselective membrane and other gas  permselective membranes and development of their application  processes

The development effort has been made in cooperation with  Professor Matsuyama of Kobe University and others, with subsidies  provided by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development   Organization (NEDO) and the Kinki Bureau of Economy, Trade and  Industry.

 

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