Mitsubishi Electric Partners with ITRI and TTL Jhunan Brewery in Taiwan to Advance CO₂ Capture and Utilization Demonstration Project
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation has announced that it has entered into a collaboration agreement with the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and the Taiwan Tobacco & Liquor Corporation (TTL) Jhunan Brewery. The agreement focuses on launching a new demonstration project that will test innovative methods of capturing and reusing carbon dioxide (CO₂) in real-world operations. Specifically, the partners will capture CO₂ emissions generated during the brewing process at TTL’s Jhunan Brewery, purify the captured gas, and repurpose it for use in beer production. This initiative aims to demonstrate the potential of carbon recycling in the food and beverage sector while supporting the broader fight against climate change.
Building on Prior Sustainability Collaborations
This partnership is not the first time Mitsubishi Electric and ITRI have joined forces to pursue sustainability-focused research. In April 2024, the two organizations signed a basic agreement to explore a range of next-generation environmental technologies. Since then, they have worked closely on research and development of carbon dioxide capture and utilization (CCU) technologies.
One milestone in this collaboration came in June 2025, when Mitsubishi Electric installed a CO₂ capture system designed by ITRI at its Advanced Technology R&D Center in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. That system was successfully used to capture CO₂ from the flue gas of a gas boiler, marking an important step in validating the technology’s effectiveness. With this achievement, the partners demonstrated their ability to capture industrial emissions under controlled conditions and laid the foundation for applying the technology in other industries and regions.
Taking CO₂ Capture into a Brewery Environment
The next logical step is to bring the technology into an operational production facility. Under the new agreement, Mitsubishi Electric and ITRI will collaborate with TTL Jhunan Brewery to test CCU technologies in a live beverage manufacturing environment. TTL, a well-established state-owned corporation known for its beer and liquor production, produces significant amounts of CO₂ during the brewing process. By integrating a CO₂ capture system into the brewery’s operations, the partners will evaluate not only the efficiency of CO₂ capture but also the economic and technical feasibility of recycling it back into the production process.
The captured gas will be purified and then reused in beer production, creating a circular system where waste emissions become a valuable resource. For TTL, this project represents a concrete step toward reducing the carbon footprint of its brewing operations. It also provides a unique opportunity to assess how CCU technology can be directly applied in the food and beverage industry—a sector that generates CO₂ both from energy consumption and from fermentation processes.
Goals of the Demonstration Tests
The demonstration project has several key objectives:
- Technical Validation – To prove that CO₂ can be effectively captured from the flue gas of a gas boiler at an operational brewery without disrupting production processes.
- Purification and Reuse – To confirm that the captured gas can be purified to a level suitable for reuse in beer production.
- Economic Feasibility – To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of integrating CCU systems into beverage manufacturing facilities.
- Carbon Reduction – To demonstrate a viable method for reducing industrial CO₂ emissions while contributing to a circular economy.
By conducting these tests in a real-world brewery environment, Mitsubishi Electric, ITRI, and TTL hope to accelerate the development of CCU technologies and expand the possibilities for their application in other industries.
Mitsubishi Electric’s Broader Vision
For Mitsubishi Electric, this collaboration is part of a larger effort to create comprehensive CO₂ capture and utilization systems that can be widely implemented in factories and plants worldwide. The company envisions a future where carbon recycling is not just a niche practice but a mainstream solution for industries ranging from manufacturing to energy production.
By combining its CCU know-how with its extensive Energy & Facility solutions portfolio, Mitsubishi Electric aims to provide integrated carbon recycling solutions that help clients meet tightening environmental regulations while achieving operational efficiency. This approach is aligned with the company’s broader “Trade-On” activities, a corporate initiative designed to address pressing societal issues—such as climate change—while also driving sustainable business growth.
Toward a Sustainable Future
TTL Jhunan Brewery, as a partner in this initiative, benefits by not only reducing its own emissions but also demonstrating leadership within Taiwan’s beverage industry in embracing circular economy practices. ITRI brings to the table its strong research capabilities and track record in developing innovative industrial technologies, while Mitsubishi Electric contributes global expertise in large-scale systems integration and sustainability-driven innovation.
Together, the three organizations aim to create a replicable model of CO₂ recycling that could be adapted across other breweries, food processing plants, and industrial facilities. If successful, the project could serve as a blueprint for how industries with similar emission profiles can transform their operations to contribute to global carbon reduction goals.
