Kawasaki CO2 Capture: KCC
- Development of KHI’s CO2 capture technology
- Demonstration Projects
- Toward Large-scale and Commercial Development
- Collaboration with partners
Development of KHI’s CO2 capture technology
Development Timeline
Development of KHI’s CO2 Capture Technology Using Amine Adsorbent (Kawasaki CO2 Capture: KCC)
- Initially developed as a technology to remove CO2 from exhaled breath in enclosed spaces.
- Since the 2000s, development began to apply this technology for removing CO2 from exhaust gases as a measure against global warming.
- Various demonstration tests have been conducted since 2015, and development of DAC (Direct Air Capture) started in 2019.
- From 2025 onwards, the aim is to apply this technology to various CO2 emission sources.
KCC (Kawasaki CO2 Capture) Process
- Originally developed for use in submarines and aircraft air-conditioning systems.
- Kawasaki’s proprietary amine-impregnated adsorbent (or amine adsorbent) enables CO2 capture with significantly lower energy consumption than conventional liquid-based systems.
- Adsorbent regeneration is possible using low-grade waste heat (≤100°C), enhancing overall system efficiency and compatibility with industrial heat sources.
KCC Configurations
| Fixed-bed system | Moving-bed system | |
|---|---|---|
| System Overview |
 Adsorbent: packed in a single container. Adsorption/regeneration: operated in a batch process. |
 Adsorbent circulates between adsorption/regeneration towers for continuous operation. |
KCC Fixed-Bed System
- The amine adsorbent is packed in a vessel.
- Exhaust gas and steam are alternately supplied to capture and release CO₂, respectively.
- Simple and easily adaptable to various applications
KCC fixed-bed pilot facility
| Capture capacity：10 ton-CO2/day Size: 6.5 m (W) x 7.5 m (D) x 12 m (H) |
KCC Moving-Bed System
- The system consists of an adsorption tower and a regeneration tower aligned in tandem, through which the amine adsorbent circulates to enable continuous CO2 capture.
- The efficient use of adsorbents makes the system ideal for large-scale applications.
Demonstration Projects
1. Large Pilot Test of Advanced Carbon Dioxide capture process for Coal Combustion Flue Gas
- First large-scale deployment of KCC moving-bed system
- Japan's first pilot test capturing CO2 from coal-fired power plant using amine adsorbent
2. Environmental Impact Assessment Test in Wyoming, USA
- CO2 emission source：Dry Fork Station, a coal-fired power plant in Gillette, Wyoming, USA
- CO2 concentration in flue gas：13 Vol%
- This test plant was installed at the Integrated Test Center in Wyoming, USA to assess enviromental impact.
Project Leader : Japan Carbon Frontier Organization
Joint Implementation Partner : Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Method:
Two units constructed - one with DEA-based adsorbent, one with Kawasaki’s proprietary amine.
Atmospheric composition monitored at multiple sites before, during, and after the KCC run.
Potential hazards
- Amines
- Amine degradation products
Results:
KCC technology shows low environmental risk.
Kawasaki’s amine adsorbents showed reduced environmental impact compared to DEA.
3. Demonstration test at a waste treatment facility
- Small-size KCC unit designed for flexible deployment across various emission sources.
- Joint demonstration of CO₂ capture, methanation, and transportation with local partners.
4. KCC for DAC Bench-scale demonstration
- Leveraging 40 years of experience in CO2 removal technologies originally developed for enclosed environments such as submarines — the technological foundation of our DAC system.
- Japan’s first initiative to deploy DAC technology optimized for the country’s climate conditions.
- Demonstrated stable performance, consistently achieving CO2 recovery volumes well above target over more than 1,000 hours of continuous operation.
5. KCC Demonstration Facility at Kobe Works
PCC
Capture of low-concentration CO2 in the exhaust gas from an in-house gas engine power generation system
DAC
Direct capture of CO2 from ambient air
| Specification | DAC | PCC |
|---|---|---|
| CO2 Source | Ambient Air | Gas Engine Exhaust gas |
| Capacity | 100～200 t-CO2/year/module | 360 t-CO2/year |
| Regeneration Temperature | 60 ℃ | |
| Configuration | Moving-Bed System | |
Toward Large-scale and Commercial Development
Large-Scale DAC Ready in 2025
Model Diagram of a DAC System
KCC Demonstration Facility at Kobe Works（Oct. 2025）
DAC and PCC demonstration units were installed at our Kobe Works to capture low-concentration CO2.
Kawasaki’s DAC Business Model Overview
Collaboration with partners
Hydrogen-Powered COROLLA equipped with our amine adsorbent
Challenges to carbon negatives
- Toyota Motor Corporation launched a new technology challenge to "capture CO2 the more you drive" in the final round of Super Taikyu Series 2023 held at Fuji Speedway on November 11-12
- KHI supports and cooperates with this challenge and provides amine adsorbent
Joint Development with MODEC
KCC System has the potential to reduce the energy needed for CO2 separation in FPSOs, which require more energy for crude oil production, thereby enhancing overall energy efficiency of FPSO operations.
In August 2024, Kawasaki signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with MODEC Inc. for the joint development of a carbon capture facility designed to process gas turbine exhaust on FPSOs. As part of this collaboration, Kawasaki and MODEC conducted technology evaluation programs for the amine adsorbent employed in Kawasaki’s CO2 capture technology called “Kawasaki CO2 Capture (KCC).”
KCC employes a amine adsorbent with an amine coating applied to the surface of a porous material. This innovative design enables CO2 desorption using low-temperature heat sources, such as low-grade waste heat, significantly reducing the energy requirements of carbon capture facilities. Additionally, the KCC Moving-bed system circulates the amine adsorbent to facilitate continuous CO2 recovery, making it highly suitable for large scale carbon capture operations and enabling compact system design, which ensures potential applicability for the use on FPSOs.
As part of the current evaluation program, we plan to measure and assess the adsorption performance and degradation rate of the amine adsorbent through exposure tests using simulated gas compositions that replicate the exhaust gas of gas turbines on FPSOs.
Based on the results of this evaluation program, starting this fiscal year, we aim to advance the development of processes tailored to the exhaust gas properties for FPSOs, minimize equipment footprints to accommodate the limited loading areas on FPSOs, and optimize machinery design for offshore operations, particularly with regard to performance under wave-induced motion.
Our CO2 capture technology is used in various ways Contributing to the realization of carbon neutrality
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