Hitachi, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), and Japan Airlines (JAL) have signed an MOU to conduct Japan’s first pilot test of Direct Ocean Capture (DOC) technology on Kume Island, Okinawa Prefecture.
The project will use containerized pilot equipment installed on land to extract CO2 dissolved in seawater, with the aim of assessing the technology’s applicability, operational challenges, and environmental impacts for future deployment along Japan’s coastline.
DOC technology removes CO2 directly from seawater, encouraging the ocean to absorb additional atmospheric CO2 to restore balance. As seawater contains significantly higher CO2 concentrations than the atmosphere, the technology is being explored as a potential lower-cost and lower-energy carbon removal solution.
The initiative aims to advance carbon dioxide removal (CDR) solutions for hard-to-abate sectors such as shipping and aviation, where emissions reductions remain challenging.
The three companies have invested in U.S.-based DOC developer Captura Corp. and are exploring the establishment of a domestic carbon removal ecosystem, including the potential use of captured CO2 as a feedstock for synthetic fuels such as e-SAF.
Credit: MOL
Hitachi will focus on monitoring operational and environmental data, improving energy efficiency, and supporting carbon credit verification. MOL will use its partnership with Kumejima Town to coordinate local cooperation and explore regional applications, while JAL will promote awareness of DOC technology and assess its potential role in future e-SAF procurement.