KUCHING: Chitose Laboratory Corp’s new carbon capture central in Kuching, Malaysia is making headlines as the largest production facility of its kind in the world.
Dubbed Chitose Carbon Capture Central (C4), the facility uses flat-panel photobioreactor technology to produce microalgae, a sustainable resource that has a variety of applications including food and feed products, fuels, polymers, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.
The C4 facility is unique in that it uses carbon dioxide gas from the nearby Sejingkat Power Station for the microalgae cultivation, making it the largest demonstration of its kind funded by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).
The brainchild of Dr. Takanori Hoshino, Chitose Laboratory Crop’s chief bioengineer and executive officer, the C4 facility has been in development since March 2020. With plans to expand to 100 hectares by 2027 and 2,000 hectares by 2030, the facility aims to integrate downstream processing and ensure commercialization.
Microalgae are proving to be a game-changer in the world of sustainable resources, with potential to replace fossil fuels and increase food production.
As Dr. Hoshino noted, the impact of microalgae on the environment is positive as it uses carbon dioxide, thus reducing carbon emissions.
The C4 facility is attracting global attention, with a delegation of government officials, industry experts, and potential investors from Japan set to visit the site in April.
With its innovative technology and sustainable practices, the C4 facility is poised to make a significant impact on the future of resource production.
