AGC Inc. (AGC; Headquarters: Tokyo; President: Yoshinori Hirai) and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc. (MGC; Headquarters: Tokyo; President: Masashi Fujii) have agreed to begin the study regarding the production and sale of methanol made from CO2 generated from AGC’s architectural glass production, by applying the methanol production technology developed by MGC. This study targets commercialization by around 2030 at AGC‘s Kashima Plant, and when achieved, it will be the world’s first*2 case of producing and selling “Circular Carbon Methanol (CCM)”*1 that effectively utilizes the CO2 generated from glass production.

In recent years, CCU*3 technology, which captures and utilizes CO2, has been attracting attention as an innovative technology for achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Methanol also has a wide range of applications as an essential chemicals, and in recent years, its use for conversion to ethylene and propylene has been expanding. As such, it is expected that its utilization will widen the possibility towards carbon neutrality.
The goal of this study is to use CCU technology to convert the CO2 generated at Japan’s largest architectural glass manufacturing facility into methanol, which will then be produced and sold. While chemical products that use captured CO2 as a raw material can reduce environmental burden, the higher cost associated with CO2 capture and conversion compared to conventional manufacturing methods is an issue. To address this, MGC will promote the social value of its “CCM,” which offers low environmental burden, and cultivate customers through its existing sales network. In addition to this study, AGC is also considering replacing methane gas used as a raw material in its own chemical business with CCM, with a view to commercializing chemical products based on carbon recycling.

The AGC Group has set “promoting sustainability management” as one of the key strategies in its medium-term management plan, AGC plus-2023, and has set a target of net-zero carbon emissions*4 by 2050. AGC’s Architectural Glass and Chemicals businesses will work together to realize the production and sale of methanol utilizing the CO2 generated from glass production, thereby contributing to the attainment of a sustainable society, while aiming for continued growth and evolution.

Based on the MGC Group’s mission of “creating value to share with society,” MGC has been promoting the “CCM concept CarbopathTM*5 ” to convert CO2, waste plastics, biomass, etc. to methanol for use in chemical products, fuels, and power generation, using methanol production technology based on its proprietary catalysts developed over the years. It aims to actively contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the transition to a circular economy through social implementation of the concept.

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