Japanese power producer and wholesaler J-Power and US oil services provider Schlumberger will jointly study the possibility of producing CO2-free hydrogen using coal gasification technology. The carbon dioxide that comes out of the process will be used for enhanced oil recovery (EOR).

J-Power and Schlumberger have started a basic study on building a plant that will produce CO2-free hydrogen using coal gasification technology. The technology can separate carbon monoxide and hydrogen using coal and oxygen. Carbon dioxide and hydrogen will then be produced by adding water vapour to the carbon monoxide. Schlumberger will use the carbon dioxide that comes out of the process for EOR, as a part of its carbon capture, utilisation and storage application. There is a possibility of using the CO2-free hydrogen as a generation fuel for a power plant but there is also a possibility of selling the fuel, J-Power said.

The whole process will take place overseas where the EOR technique can be employed.

J-Power has a separate project that plans to produce hydrogen using unutilised coking coal through coal gasification in Australia. The hydrogen will be delivered to Japan.

Japanese firms are accelerating technology development and new businesses to cut carbon dioxide emissions to achieve a goal of reducing carbon dioxide from power plants by 20pc before 2030 and net-zero GHG emissions by 2050.