Asia Biomass Energy Cooperation Promotion Office
In 2008, the total amount of biodiesel fuels produced in the world measured 12 million kℓ(kiloliter), while Japanese production in total was only 7,000 kℓ. Currently in Japan, biodiesel fuels are being produced by small local factories, and mainly from used food oils collected from restaurants as well as general households in small amount. This is the main reason why biodiesel fuels cannot be mass produced, nor become popular in Japan. There are 66 domestic biodiesel makers; among the 66 makers, only 13 have capability to produce more than 100 kℓ per year, and the rest are medium and small.
As for used food oil in Japan, 300,000 ~ 350,000 ton comes from food businesses, and 100,000 ton comes from general households, every year. Total amount of used food oil are 400,000 ~ 450,000 ton per year. It is expected possible to produce 490,000 kℓ of biodiesel fuel from 450,000 ton of used food oil. Annual consumption of light oil in Japan today stays around 40,000,000 kℓ. According to biodiesel mixture ratio 5% of light oil established in Japan, 2,000,000 kℓ of biodiesel would be necessary, which is expected to reduce CO2 emission by 5,000,000 ton a year. In order to supply 2,000,000 kℓ of biodiesel, Japan should employ other kind of biomass for producing biodiesel, apart from the above-mentioned waste food oil.
In this circumstance, various efforts are being made to expand the domestic production and use of biodiesel. For instance, use of raw materials other than food oil, development of simpler and easier production methods, and expansion of utilization methods in addition. The following table summarizes various challenges being made in Japan in this regard.
Table Challenges for Expansion/Popularization of Domestic Biodiesel Fuels
| Promoters/Business | Content/Scope of Project |
|---|---|
| Fuchigami Co.,LTD National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) |
Develop an exhaust gas cleaning device for diesel-driven vehicles such as buses and trucks by burning soot in the gas. This device makes it possible for diesel vehicles to use 100% biodiesel fuel. |
| TOYOTA Motor Corporation, HINO Motors, Ltd, Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K |
Conducted a full-scale running experiment of buses, using a mixed-type fuel made from a hydrogen-added biodiesel fuel and Fischer-Tropsch Diesel (FTD), since 1 July 2010. |
| Toda Corporation Matsudo City |
Toda Corporation and Matsudo City agreed on a treaty in regard of utilization of used food oils in July 2010. Toda Corporation is to produce biodiesel by using waste food oil supplied by citizens of Matsudo. |
| Kobe University, NPO “Nadeshiko Family”, Satoshoji Corporation, ANKS Corporation |
Conducted a range of combustion experiments with diesel engines and boilers, using a mixed fuel of jatropha oil and light oil in a proportion of 50 to 50, stirred with a mechanical mixer. Confirmed that combustion was as good as that of light oil or heavy oil. |
Fig. Number of Biodiesel Makers in Japan
(from Survey Report on Present State of Biodiesel Production in Japan (2008))
Source:
1) Survey Report on Current State of Biodiesel Production in Japan (2008), a paper presented at All Japan Conference on Promotion of Biodiesel Use
2) The Environmental News
3) “Guidelines on Recycling of UC Oil”, a paper issued by Joint Association of Oil and Fat Industries of Japan
et al
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