
EV普及が進む中、バイオ燃料やCO2回収技術で脱炭素の選択肢を拡大
マツダはエンジン車の脱炭素化に向け、微細藻類を活用したバイオ燃料の研究を進めている。広島市本社工場の発電所近くに水槽を設置し、軽油代替燃料となる油脂をためる藻類の安定培養技術を2023年から検証中。
AI-generated summary
マツダは電気自動車の普及が進む中、エンジン車の脱炭素化へ向けた選択肢としてバイオ燃料やCO2回収技術の研究を行っている。
マツダがエンジン車の脱炭素化に向けた取り組みを広げている。電気自動車(EV)の普及が進むなか、バイオ燃料や二酸化炭素(CO2)回収技術の実用化を通じ、脱炭素の選択肢を増やす狙いだ。
マツダの本社工場(広島市)にある自社発電所近くに、約1千リットルの水槽(縦5メートル、横1.5メートル)が二つ設置されている。
この中で培養されているのは、微細藻類「ナンノクロロプシス」。光合成で成長し、体内にディーゼルエンジン車の燃料である軽油の代替燃料となる油脂をためる。2023年から安定的な培養に向けた研究を続けている。
2週間の培養で、水槽ひとつあたり約3リットルのバイオ燃料ができる。バイオ燃料は脱炭素燃料のひとつ。クルマの走行時にCO2は出るが、藻類が光合成でCO2を吸収しており、トータルでみれば、軽油よりCO2を減らせる。
どう商用化? 普及見すえた実証実験も
ただ、商用化には、燃料メー…

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