Details of Biomass Technology Development

Details of Biomass Technology Development

Overview
Biomass technology development is a technology that generates energy using plant resources and waste derived from animals and plants as part of renewable energy. Biomass energy is an important field aimed at preventing global warming and sustainable energy supply. Below are the details of specific technology developments.

Types of Technologies and Development
1. **High-efficiency Hydrogen Gasification Technology**
- A technology that generates hydrogen gas at high temperatures from biomass resources. This technology can generate high-purity hydrogen that can be used in hydrogen fuel cells.

2. **Methane Fermentation Technology**
- Organic waste (such as sewage, manure, and food waste) is fermented under anaerobic conditions to generate methane gas. The generated methane gas is used as fuel for boilers and generators.

3. **Composting Technology**
- A technology that composts organic waste and reuses it as agricultural fertilizer. The composting process not only reduces waste but also expects its use as a soil improvement material.

4. **Pyrolysis Technology**
- Biomass is thermally decomposed at high temperatures and converted into gas, oil, and charcoal. This allows the gasified biomass to be burned to recover energy.

5. **Fuel Cell Technology**
- A fuel cell technology that generates electricity using hydrogen gas. By using hydrogen generated from biomass as fuel, clean power supply is possible.

Initiatives in Japan
- **Joint Project of Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries**
- The Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries have started the development of biomass recycling utilization technology and systems from 2003. This project aims to develop biomass systems in both rural and urban areas, using high-efficiency hydrogen gasification and fuel cell technology to build zero-emission recycling systems. The budget scale is about 10 billion yen and will be implemented over a four-year plan.

- **Corporate Initiatives**
- **Sapporo Breweries**
- Introduced fuel cells that utilize methane gas generated from anaerobic wastewater treatment at the Chiba plant. It has achieved cost savings of about 30 million yen annually by recovering 1.73 million kWh of electricity and 152 megacalories of waste heat annually.
- **Kirin Brewery**
- At the Tochigi plant, biogas-utilizing fuel cells are in operation, supplying about 5% of the energy for the entire plant. Co-generation systems using by-product methane are also in operation at other plants.

- **Local Government Initiatives**
- **Shiga Prefecture**
- Implementing the "Yellow Rape Blossom Project". Rapeseed oil is extracted from rape blossoms and used as food and biodiesel fuel. A power generation plant using thinned wood has been installed in a forest park in Taga Town, utilizing the power for on-site facilities.
- **Yagi Town, Kyoto Prefecture**
- At the Bio-Ecology Center, livestock manure and tofu manufacturer waste are methane-fermented for power generation. The generated electricity is used as power within the center, and the remaining residue is sold as compost by the agricultural cooperative.

International Development
- **European Union (EU)**
- The utilization of biomass energy is advancing, and there is a plan to double the share of renewable energy in total energy to 12% by 2010. In Sweden and Finland, biomass accounts for about 20% of primary energy supply.

Technical Challenges and Prospects
- **Cost Issues**
- The cost of biomass energy is still high, and further technological innovation and efficiency improvements are required to remain competitive.
- **Sustainability**
- Sustainable supply of biomass resources and reduction of environmental impact during the energy generation process are essential.
- **Policy Support**
- Government subsidy systems and tax incentives are important factors to promote the spread of biomass energy.

Biomass technology development is an important initiative aiming for the coexistence of environmental protection and energy supply. Further spread and development are expected through technological innovation and policy support in the future.