Bioethanol Project in Iwate Prefecture, Oshu City and Isawa Ward, June 2007

Bioethanol Project in Iwate Prefecture, Oshu City and Isawa Ward, June 2007

In cooperation with Tokyo University of Agriculture, Isawa Ward, Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture, is engaged in the production of bioethanol from rice. This project was initiated by the former town of Isawa in 2004, and after the merging of municipalities in February 2006, the Regional Energy Promotion Office of Oshu City has continued to promote the project. Based on the four self-sufficiency concepts of food, welfare, community, and energy, the project aims to promote resource recycling, CO2 reduction, and agricultural promotion through local production for local consumption.

As part of the "Rice Rice Japan" project, we have developed ethanol production technology using whole crop rice (whole immature rice plants). The solid-state fermentation method developed by the Tokyo University of Agriculture adds enzymes and yeast to the fermentation process, and since no waste liquid is generated, processing energy can be reduced. It also has the advantage that the equipment is simple and does not require specialized knowledge, and the fermentation residue can be used as feed or fertilizer.

In 2006, comparative experiments were conducted using rice husks and brown rice (both "Hitomebore") at a distillation temperature of 65°C in Tokyo and Oshu City, and it was found that the distillation efficiency was higher in Oshu City, which is located in a cold climate, and the production volume was higher with rice husks. Currently, the development of cellulose-degrading enzymes and the study of CO2 liquefaction are underway.

This project envisions the development of an integrated system that includes upstream (raw material supply), midstream (production), and downstream (utilization). Various uses are being considered for the fuel, including E3 (gasoline blended with 3% ethanol), agricultural machinery, house boilers, kitchens, and livestock disinfection.

In 2006, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the National Corn Growers Association, and others were invited to Oshu City for an international symposium. The goal is to verify the use of corn in the U.S. and establish a unique business model utilizing the rice paddies in the Tohoku region.

In January 2007, the "Isawa New Energy Study Group" was established under the leadership of local residents to develop energy projects through the proactive participation of farmers themselves. In the future, a small-scale plant will be constructed in 2008, with a view to full-scale development in 2009 and beyond.

Oshu City's efforts are attracting attention as an advanced example of an effort to build a sustainable energy society that makes the most of domestic resources.

Related Sources

1. Tokyo University of Agriculture is working to establish a sustainable cultivation system through research on cellulosic bioethanol feedstock crops.

New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) has released a post-evaluation report of the "Development of Useful Elemental Technologies for Biofuel Production" project.

3. the Japan Agricultural Research Institute (JAIRI) has published a report on research and development of social technologies for sustainable development of rural areas.