BIOMASS FACILITY FOCUS

TO BECOME a global leader in ecological energy production, Japan has expanded its renewable-based power generating portfolio aggressively over a period of almost two decades.

The country placed particular emphasis on adopting energy systems based on advanced biofuels with low carbon footprints, and biomass pellets were at the core of the country's strategy.

Japan's government channelled more than US$1.34B of grant funding into constructing country-wide dedicated biomass infrastructure. This supportive financial backing saw energy companies construct more than 580 specialised biomass power generation facilities in a 14 year period.

It also helped to extend the lifespan of Japan’s traditionally-fired power stations by allowing them to burn black biomass pellets that could act as a drop in replacement for coal. As a result, the country is now rich in power production plants that run on biofuel.

Japan continues to pursue ambitious environmental milestones by burning advanced black pellets from sustainable sources, and by targeting net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The country is also working to meet a shorter term pledge to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions from 2013 levels by 60 percent reduction before 2035.

This is the second instalment in Power Wood's dedicated series of articles covering Japan's bioenergy landscape. 

In it we examine three more of the archipelago's most technologically advanced biomass power generation projects. And we reveal how Ishinomaki Hibarino, Handa Summit and Ofunato biomass power generating stations will contribute to delivering on Japan’s climate targets. 

Credit / Source: Ishimaki Hibarino Biomass Energy LLC - Ishimaki Hibarino Power Station is well positioned to receive consignments of biofeul pellet offtake arriving at Ishonomaki Port on Japan's Honshu island.

The Ishinomaki Hibarino Biomass Power Station is a 75MW energy generating station located in Ishinomaki city on the west coast of Japan’s Miyagi Prefecture on Honshu Island.

It was located in Ishinomaki Port to capitalize on the increasing numbers of large cargo vessels docking there to unload biofuel. As a result, the modern biomass power station in the port’s Hibarino Industrial Park area incorporates strict design and safety measures engineered to withstand the height of tsunamis.

Brought into operation by Renova Inc. in March 2024, it generates clean energy for approximately 170,000 local households using a blend of sustainable biofuel pellets from North America and palm kernel shells.

The facility was jointly funded by Japan-based Renova Inc., Tokyo Gas Co. Ltd., United Purpose Management Inc and Mizuho Leasing.

Credit / Source: Sumitomo Corporation Group & Summit Handa Power Corporation - The Handa Summit Biomass Power Plant burns sustainable biofuel pellets to provide base-load power for approximately 120,000 households in Honshu island's Aichi Prefecture.

In the industrialized waterfront district of Handa City, adjacent to the Port of Kinuura’s deep water berths for bulk carriers, stands the impressive Handa Summit Biomass Power Plant.

Fuelled with sustainably sourced biofuel pellets, wood chips and palm kernel shells, the 75MW power facility is designed to handle multi-fuel variations seamlessly and incorporates extensive warehousing facilities and fuel storage yards.

Operated by the Summit Handa Power Corporation, a subsidiary of Summit Energy, itself a Sumitomo Corporation Group company, the plant commenced commercial operations in June 2017.

The Handa Summit Biomass Power Plant is a dedicated 24-hour base-load power station, supplying approximately 120,000 households in the Aichi Prefecture to its North East with clean energy through the regional grid operated by Chubu Electric Power.

Credit / Source: Erex.Ofunato Power Inc - Ofunato Biomass Power Plant entered commercial operations in 2024 to help Japan reach its stringent decarbonization and carbon neutrality milestones.

The Ofunato Biomass Power Plant is found on the North West Pacific coast of Japan’s main Honshu Island in Ofunato City, where it supplies clean energy to Taiheiyo Cement Corp’s Ofunato Cement Works.

Its clean energy facilities are managed jointly by the corporation and Erex – a Japanese energy retail business dedicated to decarbonizing the country’s heavy industries by integrating renewable grid electricity.

The 75MW generating station was put into operational service in January 2020 and is fuelled with imported biofuel pellets and palm kernel shells. When operating a full capacity it consumes an approximate combined total of 400,000 tons of biomass per year.

Excess energy produced at the generating station is sold directly to the local Iwate Prefecture grid under Japan’s Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) renewable energy scheme.