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7.1 Biofuel Research and Development by Various Organizations |
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Plans to produce large amounts of domestic biofuel in Japan were put forward by the executive committee of Biomass Nippon Strategy consisted of relevant ministries in February 2007.
As a result of the conference, targets were set regarding the expansion of biofuel production by 2030 in Japan. It is based on the technical development of the use of rice straw or thinned wood and so on from rural areas for the production of biofuel. The plan also refers to the potential of technological development during the coming 10 years and an increase in the range of crops that can be used for biofuel production is expected.
The relevant ministries have agreed to cooperate with these targets. Independent research laboratories, public research organizations, universities as well as private organizations will continue to further the development of biofuels and promote their value1.
It is possible to access details of each organization’s research at the Biomass Research Organizations Database2 . |
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1 Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research Council, Basic plan for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research, Reference, Research and development for Significant boosting the production of biofuel in Japan, 2007 (revised edition)
2 This database was created by the New Energy Foundation (NEF) with support from Japanese businesses as part of the promotion of biomass-derived energy to East Asian nations. It will be open to the public from 2008. The database shows the details of research into the uses of biomass by research laboratories, local government, universities, private enterprises etc. Information from both inside and outside Japan is being collected and can be viewed around the world. This will aid organizations involved in the development of biofuels, providing answers to questions, sharing intelligence, increasing co-operation in research and assisting in training. |
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7.2 Medium-to-Long-Term Biofuel Production Amounts |
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Executive committee of Biomass Nippon Strategy predicts that the amount of biofuel domestically produced in 2030 is around 6 million kiloliters (crude oil equivalent 3.6 million kiloliters, see table 7.1) through the development of technology such as collection and transportation of crops, development of crops which can produce a large amount of ethanol ,manufacturing ethanol abundantly from rice straw or wood. |
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Table 7.1 Predicted Production Amounts of Domestic Biofuel (estimate calculated by Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) |
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| Raw materials |
Predicted production amounts of biofuel in 2030
(ethanol) |
Predicted production amounts of biofuel in 2030
(crude oil equivalent) |
| 1. Materials containing sugar and starch(by-product of inexpensive food production) |
50,000kL |
30,000kL |
| 2. Grasses (rice plants, straw etc.) |
1,800,000 - 2,000,000kL |
1,100,000 – 1,200,000kL |
| 3. Energy Crops |
2,000,000 – 2,200,000kL |
1,200,000 – 1,300,000kL |
| 4. Wood |
2,000,000 – 2,200,000kL |
1,200,000 – 1,300,000kL |
| 5. Biodiesel fuel etc |
100,000 – 200,000kL |
60,000 – 120,000kL |
| Total |
About 6,000,000kL |
About 3,600,000kL |
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(Grasses) |
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It is believed that around 1,800,000 – 2,000,000kL of ethanol (crude oil conversion 1,100,000 – 1,200,00kL) could be produced from grasses such as rice straw, wheat straw and chaff in 2030 after use for animal feed and compost is taken into account. |
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(Energy Crops) |
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It is believed that around 2,000,000 – 2,200,000kL of ethanol (crude oil conversion 1,200,000 – 1,300,00kL) could be produced by growing high-quantity biomass crops, considering the conformity of the ‘The basic plan for food, agriculture and rural areas’ aiming to increase food self-sufficiency, utilizing abandoned land. |
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(Wood) |
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It is believed that around 2,000,000 – 2,200,000kL of ethanol (crude oil conversion 1,200,000 – 1,300,00kL) could be produced from the wood-based biomass such as forestry residue, surplus wood from the construction industry, sawmills etc. by using them maximally through a synergistic effect of an improvement in both ethanol conversion technology and the wood collection and transportation system technology. |
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(Biodiesel fuel etc.) |
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It is believed that around 100,000 – 200,000kL of ethanol (crude oil conversion 60,000 – 120,000kL) could be produced through the use of used cooking oil and other similar products. |
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Japanese
