Honda May Commercialize Carbon Capture Algae

Honda Motor Co. is considering the commercialization of its algae-growing carbon capture technology, reports Shiho Takezawa in Japan’s Nikkei newspaper. The carmaker will test mass production of algae this fall and build a new facility of about 1,000 square meters (10,760 square feet), according to the newspaper. Honda will use the algae at its own production facilities in Japan and Southeast Asia to offset carbon emissions, from the latter half of 2023, the Nikkei said.

Honda Motor Co. is one of more than 35 Japanese companies and institutions aligning to tap the potential of microalgae to replace fossil fuels and contribute to a range of foods and consumer goods. The company is ramping up efforts to go green as it pledges to phase out sales of gasoline-powered cars by 2040 and achieve net-zero emissions for its entire supply chain by 2050. Honda’s Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions for its fiscal year through 2021 were 4.5 million tons, according to its sustainability report.

Honda has improved its algae’s resistance to infection, enabling it to grow more efficiently — with the ability to multiply 32 times in a single day, compared with once or twice for ordinary algae, the newspaper said.

The automaker is also considering using biofuels made from algae for its HondaJet airplane, as well as for electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft or eVTOLs, which it aims to commercialize in the 2030s, the newspaper reported.

(via Bloomberg)