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Reduce CO2 Emission by Biomass Chips Spreading in Japan

Reduce CO2 Emission by Biomass Chips Spreading in Japan

New bio-fuels businesses are coming into being! They utilize locally collectable woody waste such as thinned wood and residue from sawmill and produce chips and pellets as bio-fuels. The following table shows current utilization record of woody biomass in Yamaguchi, Miyazaki, Fukui and Shiga Prefectures. The businesses are aiming at realizing so-called “produce and consume locally”, by producing biofuels from thinned wood or forest residue of local areas, and on another hand, by distributing the biofuels in the areas so as to activate and facilitate local industries as well as everyday life of the people.

Japanese government has been taking a range of measures in order to cope with global warming problems and to realize so-called recycling societies. To expand the use of biofuels is one of the important measures. In accordance with the Kyoto Protocol, Japanese Government presented an achievement plan for utilization of biomass energy, in which target values are shown as, 5.86 million KL of COE for waste-burning power generation and biomass power generation, and 3.08 million KL of COE for biomass heat utilization, respectively. (COE=Crude Oil Equivalent)


Table　　Current Use of Woody Biomass

Region Current Use of Woody Biomass Effect /Result of Utilization
Abu-Chou
(Yamaguchi Pref.)
  1. Woody chips from thinned wood and woody waste from sawmill (400ton/y)
  2. regular operation since July 2009
  1. Woody chips burnt in boilers、heat to be supplied to swimming pool and bathing facility at Abu-Chou Onsen (SPA)
  2. Reduction of fossil fuel by 120 KL/y COE and reduction of CO2 emission by 324 ton/y
Nojiri-Chou
(Miyazaki Pref.)
  1. March 2009 : woody chips production from thinned wood
  2. January 2010 : start woody pellets production
  3. Target : collect 20,000m3/ year of woody biomass
  1. Chips and pellets to be burnt to warm up green houses for agriculture and gardening.
  2. Woody chips to be used as ground cover for cows
Fukui Prefecture
  1. 12 July 2009,establish “Biomass Utilizing Meeting”
  2. Seven businesses challenging biomass utilization in Fukui area joined the meeting,cooperating each other
  1. Expanding and promoting utilization of woody biomasses such as firewood, charcoal, plant oil etc. in Fukui prefecture
  2. Revitalization of forest industries and peoples life of the area
Asai Factory, Sekisui House Co.(Nagahama city,Shiga Pref.)
  1. Saw dust discharged from woody parts factory is gasified into (CO and H2) by pyrolysis
  2. The gases are burnt in a gas engine for power generation. Recovery and reuse of heat from the engine.
  3. Facilities were installed in 2006, regular operation started soon after the trial
  1. Power generation of 1,750 kWh/day using 2.2 ton of saw dust, filling 30% of power demand of the Asai factory.
  2. Recovered heat is used for making hot air for drying wood, and for making hot water to warming the office rooms.
  3. Saving of 22 million yen per year by cutting down electricity fee and cost for waste treatment/disposal.


Table　　Record and Future Target of New Energy Introduction

(Unit : 10,000 KL of Crude Oil Equivalent)

(Source : Agency for Natural Resources and Energy “Energy of Japan 2009”)

Area of Use Kind of New Energy FY2006 FY2010
Electric Power Generation Solar 41.8 118
Wind 60.7 134
Waste + Biomass 290.5 586
Thermal Energy Biomass 156 308
Other thermal Energy 712 764
Total
(Ratio to Primary Energy Supply)		 1,262
(2.2 %)		 1,910
(abt. 3.0 %)

Note : Other use of heat = solar heat, heat of agricultural waste, unused heat energy and etc.


Fig. Record and future plan of the use of new energy

Fig. Record and future plan of the use of new energy (Source : Agency for Natural Resources and Energy “Energy of Japan 2009”)

Cf. Asahi Shimbun, Miyazaki Nichinichi Shinbun, Chunichi Shinbun and etc.

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