Hanwha TotalEnergies Petrochemical has begun demonstration operations of a first-of-its-kind carbon capture pilot facility to reduce carbon emissions and respond to climate change, the South Korean joint venture between Hanwha and TotalEnergies said on Monday.

The facility directly captures carbon dioxide from flue gas produced from the firm’s naphtha cracking center (NCC), Hanwha TotalEnergies said in a statement.

Flue gas is a mixed gas generated during the fuel combustion process and normally discharged through chimneys.

The firm invested approximately won (W) 10 billion ($683 million) in construction of the pilot facility, which took place between December 2023 and June 2025, and began full-scale demonstration operation at the Daesan petrochemical complex in November, after completing the test operation and stabilization stages.

The company said it plans to capture carbon dioxide generated from the NCC at an average of 20 tonnes/day “under various concentrations and conditions” for the next 12 months, following which it will be supplied to a joint research and development institute, and used to manufacture polyurethane adhesive prototypes.

Using the data gleamed from the demonstration, Hanwha TotalEnergies plans to eventually design large-scale carbon capture commercial plants focused on petrochemical processes, with plans for commercialization, the company said.

Hanwha TotalEnergies is 50-50 jointly owned by Hanwha and TotalEnergies.

($1 = W1,452.7)