Project Overview
The Mikawa Power Plant, located in Omuta City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, is a 50 MW biomass-fired thermal power facility operated by SIGMA POWER Ariake Corporation, a subsidiary of Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions (ESS). Under Japan’s Ministry of the Environment “Sustainable CCS Technology Project”, the plant became a pioneering demonstration site for large-scale Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) technology integrated with bioenergy operations.
Business Need
While renewable sources continue to grow globally, reliable baseload power remains crucial for energy security. Biomass-based thermal plants like Mikawa are considered carbon-neutral because they use sustainable fuels such as palm kernel shells (PKS). However, to go beyond carbon neutrality toward negative emissions, advanced CCUS solutions were needed to capture and store CO2 emissions effectively
Technical Approach
Navik Enterprises studied the Mikawa CCUS deployment as a reference for large-scale post- combustion capture applied to thermal power:
- A CO2 capture facility was constructed adjacent to the power plant using advanced amine- based absorption technology.
- The system treats flue gas from the biomass boiler and captures CO2 before it is released to the atmosphere.
- Integration with the plant’s steam cycle allowed turbine extraction steam to support desorption in the capture unit, improving energy efficiency.
In addition to large-scale capture (over 500–600 tons/day), Mikawa also operated a pilot capture plant, capturing ~10 tons of CO2 daily, to verify performance, operability, and maintainability of post- combustion capture systems.
Key Achievements
- First of its kind in Japan: Mikawa became the first carbon capture system capable of capturing over 50 % of total plant emissions from a biomass thermal plant.
- Significant CO2 Reduction: The large-scale capture facility handles 500 + tonnes of CO2 per day, contributing directly to emission reduction goals.
- Negative Emissions Potential: Because the base plant uses biomass fuel, combining it with CCUS turns the facility toward “negative emission” bioenergy with CCS (BECCS) — removing carbon from the atmosphere beyond neutrality.
- Technology Validation: Extensive demonstration operations validate technology readiness for broader thermal power decarbonization.
Client & Industry Impact
The Mikawa CCUS project highlights how large-scale carbon capture integrated with thermal generation can:
✔ Enable reliable power plants to reduce carbon footprint significantly
✔ Support national decarbonization strategies through BECCS pathways
✔ Provide operational data and lessons for commercial CCUS deployments in the energy sector
Navik Enterprises draws on insights from Mikawa’s integration of CO2 capture systems, demonstrating how CCUS can be applied to both biomass and conventional thermal plants to support energy transition goals.
Conclusion
The Mikawa Power Plant CCUS initiative represents a major milestone in decarbonizing thermal power generation. By capturing a significant portion of CO2 emissions and moving toward negative emissions, the project sets a precedent for sustainable power infrastructure and provides a blueprint for future CCUS applications globally — especially for countries pursuing both energy security and climate targets.