JERA Co., Inc., through its venture capital arm, JERA Ventures, has entered into a partnership with Newlab New Orleans to accelerate next-generation carbon capture technologies for low-concentration CO2 emissions from gas-fired power plants. The collaboration aims to evaluate, test, and advance emerging startups developing Point-Source Capture (PSC) technologies under conditions representative of real industrial emissions.

Partnership Structure and Timeline

Under the partnership, JERA and Newlab New Orleans will evaluate and select a group of promising PSC startups and, within 2026, identify one technology for deeper development and potential commercialization. The partners will conduct proof-of-concept testing under representative conditions and advance leading candidates into pilot-project planning. They will also pursue the engineering and partnership work required to prepare for potential deployment at gas-fired power plants.

The collaboration represents a structured program designed to bridge the gap between early-stage carbon capture technologies and commercial deployment. Newlab New Orleans serves as a purpose-built startup platform focused on critical technologies for energy and industry in the Gulf South.

Technical Challenges and Solutions

While Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) development has accelerated globally, capturing CO2 from lower-concentration sources remains a complex technical challenge. Combined Cycle Gas Turbines (CCGT), vital for reliable power generation, produce low CO2 emissions, making conventional capture methods costly and inefficient.

Advancing early-stage Point-Source Capture (PSC) technologies is essential to unlocking scalable solutions for next-generation power systems. The partnership aims to validate promising solutions in industrial environments, creating a pathway for pilot projects and eventual deployment of commercial-scale technologies.

Strategic Vision and Global Relevance

Takeshi Kodama, Head of JERA Ventures, stated that JERA Ventures was created to identify, test, and scale breakthrough technologies that can transform the future of global energy systems. Through the partnership with Newlab New Orleans, the company can validate promising solutions in industrial environments, paving the way for pilot projects and eventual deployment of commercial-scale technologies capable of supporting power systems across global markets.

Sahil Jain, VP of Strategy at Newlab, emphasized that Louisiana sits at the center of one of the world's most energy-intensive industrial corridors, and the solutions validated there have global relevance. The partnership creates a platform to directly evaluate next-generation carbon capture technologies on real-world flue gas profiles, to de-risk technologies that meet the power sector's most urgent decarbonization needs, and move faster toward first-of-a-kind deployment.

JERA's Louisiana Energy Portfolio

This partnership builds on JERA's continued engagement in Louisiana's dynamic energy economy. The company is developing the world's largest low-carbon ammonia facility in the state and holds an ownership stake in Louisiana's largest solar installation, the 300-megawatt Oxbow Solar Farm. JERA has also invested in upstream shale gas assets in the Haynesville basin and maintains long-term LNG offtake agreements.

These initiatives reflect JERA's mission to provide cutting-edge solutions to the world's energy issues. The company, established in 2015, is Japan's largest power generation company and produces one-third of Japan's electricity. JERA is also one of the largest LNG buyers in the world, with global reach and strength throughout the energy supply chain, including upstream gas exploration and production, LNG projects, fuel procurement and transportation, and power generation.

Corporate Venture Capital Strategy

JERA Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of JERA, makes strategic investments totaling USD 300 million in startups and venture capital funds worldwide. The initiative backs companies developing breakthrough technologies and business models, serving as a strategic partner to help scale solutions that can transform the energy sector.

Acting as a bridge between entrepreneurs and JERA's global network, JERA Ventures provides resources and expertise to accelerate the transition to a sustainable energy future. Newlab operates as a global venture platform supporting the development of transformative technologies through infrastructure and strategic partnerships.

Newlab New Orleans functions as the organization's public-private innovation hub in Louisiana, collaborating with regional stakeholders across the public sector, academia, and energy industry. The hub provides a unique environment for testing and deploying early-stage technologies in industrial settings and accelerating commercialization pathways.

In support of a responsible energy transition, JERA has committed to achieving net-zero CO2 emissions from its domestic and overseas businesses by 2050. The partnership with Newlab New Orleans represents a strategic step toward developing the technologies necessary to meet this commitment while addressing the technical challenges of capturing CO2 from low-concentration sources in power generation.

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