Wood Resource Recycling Technology - February 2004

Wood Resource Recycling Technology - February 2004

Wood resource recycling technology is an innovative approach that uses construction waste wood and pruned branches to produce biomass energy. The demonstration plant located in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, processes approximately 100 tons of wood waste per day, and about 30,000 tons of wood are recycled into fuel chips annually. The processed fuel chips are used as energy at Kansai Electric Power's biomass power plant, which can supply electricity to approximately 50,000 households annually.

This technology was introduced by Tsukishima Kikai in collaboration with BC Corporation in the U.S. The process utilizes highly efficient crushing and drying techniques to convert waste wood into fuel chips, reducing CO2 emissions by approximately 30% compared to traditional incineration methods. Furthermore, the reuse of fuel chips enables sustainable energy supply without relying on fossil fuels.

To meet the growing demand for renewable energy in the Kansai region, Kansai Electric Power and local recycling companies have collaborated to utilize recycled fuel chips at facilities such as the Himeji Energy Plant. In the future, this technology is expected to expand nationwide, contributing to reduced waste disposal costs and lower environmental impact.

This technology is also seen as a solution to the large-scale wood waste disposal issues in urban areas and plays a central role in recycling businesses.