Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has conducted a demonstration of an integrated production process that synthesizes liquid fuels from carbon dioxide, water, and electricity at its Research & Innovation Center in Nagasaki. The setup combines SOEC co-electrolysis to generate hydrogen and carbon monoxide with Fischer–Tropsch (FT) synthesis equipment to produce liquid synthetic fuels. Chemical analysis of the resulting liquid confirmed that the demonstration produced components suitable for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
In the co-electrolysis process, water vapor and carbon dioxide are electrolyzed simultaneously, yielding hydrogen and carbon monoxide as feedstock for synthetic fuels. MHI is applying its proprietary technology to develop a tubular SOEC cell stack, in which co-electrolysis is expected to simplify the overall process and enhance economic performance through highly efficient electrolysis. By generating both gases in a single step, the process is expected to reduce costs by streamlining equipment requirements and improving efficiency in synthetic fuel production.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has set a target of achieving net-zero CO2 emissions in international aviation by 2050. To reach this goal, low-carbon fuels such as SAF and carbon credits are expected to cover more than 70% of emissions offsetting and reduction, and global demand for SAF is forecast to rise significantly. MHI aims to supply high value-added SAF production systems that combine SOEC co-electrolysis with established FT synthesis processes.
Beyond SAF, the hydrogen and carbon monoxide produced by SOEC co-electrolysis can serve as feedstock for carbon-neutral synthetic fuels for automobiles and ships, including gasoline, diesel fuel, methanol, and methane, as well as methane for city gas. These multiple end uses position SOEC co-electrolysis as a technology that can support decarbonization across aircraft, road vehicles, marine transport, and gas distribution networks.
MHI plans to leverage the findings from this demonstration to accelerate the establishment and deployment of decarbonization technologies and to contribute to the realization of a sustainable, carbon-neutral world.
