Project stakeholders
The project is led by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), Hitachi and Japan Airlines (JAL), in collaboration with Captura, a company specialised in Direct Ocean Capture (DOC) technology.
Project description
This innovative project proposes the development of a Direct Ocean Capture (DOC) pilot project in Japan, specifically around Kume Island, with the aim of evaluating the application of this technology in a real environment and studying its potential as a carbon removal solution linked to the blue economy.
DOC technology uses seawater as an intermediary element to extract dissolved carbon dioxide. Through an electrochemical process, the system separates the CO₂ contained in seawater and allows it to return to the ocean with a renewed capacity to absorb more atmospheric carbon.
The main innovation of the project lies in the application of direct ocean CO₂ capture as a carbon removal tool (marine carbon removal), combining capture technology with the ocean’s natural capacity to regulate carbon exchange with the atmosphere. In addition, the captured CO₂ can subsequently be used for industrial applications or permanent storage.
The pilot project will allow the analysis of the technology’s operation under real conditions and the study of technical aspects related to its application, scalability and integration into future decarbonisation strategies for the maritime and industrial sectors.
The initiative also explores the future potential of a circular carbon economy, where the CO₂ recovered through this technology could be used as a raw material for new products, including synthetic fuels such as e-SAF (electronic Sustainable Aviation Fuel).
This approach opens a new line of exploration within the blue economy, linking marine ecosystems with new technological strategies aimed at carbon removal and the decarbonisation of industrial sectors.
Project objectives
The main objective is to evaluate a direct ocean CO₂ capture technology in a real environment and study its potential to contribute to carbon removal from the atmosphere.
The project aims to analyse the technical feasibility and scalability of this solution, as well as explore future applications of recovered CO₂ as a raw material for industrial uses and synthetic fuels, contributing to the development of new decarbonisation strategies linked to the maritime, industrial sectors and the blue economy.
Publication date
26 August 2026