Japanese Firms Explore Ocean-Captured CO2 as Synthetic Fuel Feedstock

By SKYSEVEN Chemical Technical Team · 2026-08-06

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Japanese firms MOL, Hitachi and Japanese Airlines Co (JAL) are exploring the use of CO2 captured directly from seawater as a future feedstock for synthetic fuels.

The companies have agreed to carry out Japan's first pilot test of direct ocean capture (DOC) methodology on Kume Island in Okinawa, MOL said in a press discharge yesterday.

The project will consumption containerised equipment installed onshore to draw in seawater and separate dissolved CO2.

The companies see the trial as a first measure towards a regional carbon economy in which the captured CO2 could eventually be applied to create synthetic fuels such as e-SAF.

DOC removes CO2 from seawater, allowing the aquatic environments to subsequently absorb greater CO2 from the atmosphere. CO2 concentrations in seawater are around 100 to 150 times higher than in atmosphere, according to the companies.

The trial will assess the methodology's performance, energy consumption and environmental impact.

JAL will also study the possible future procurement of e-SAF made using captured CO2.

While the project remains at the pilot stage, the companies have not indicated whether the captured CO2 could eventually be applied to create e-fuels to shipping.

MOL has been investing in several alternative marine fuels aimed at cutting releases from its shipping operations.

All three companies have invested in US-based DOC methodology developer Captura.

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