History of Shochu Distillate Lees Recycling in Miyakonojo City, Miyazaki Prefecture - September 1997

History of Shochu Distillate Lees Recycling in Miyakonojo City, Miyazaki Prefecture - September 1997

In 1997, Kirishima Shuzo, a brewery in Miyakonojo City, Miyazaki Prefecture, and Kajima Corporation jointly developed a methane fermentation system using shochu distillation residue, a byproduct of shochu production. The technology converts 70% of the shochu distillation residue into methane gas and 30% into compost, with the methane gas produced providing approximately 50% of the plant's overall heat energy needs. The composted residues were used for local agriculture, helping to improve the fertility of the farmland. This initiative set a new standard for waste management in the shochu production industry and attracted attention as a model case for complying with the ban on ocean dumping that was scheduled to take effect in 2001.

Progress in the 2000s

In 2003, Kirishima Shuzo started operation of a methane fermentation treatment plant for shochu dregs, but at first the process was not stable, and shochu production had to be temporarily suspended. After much research with Kajima Corporation, a new plant was installed in 2006, and it is now capable of stably processing approximately 650 tons of shochu dregs per day. The biogas produced is used as fuel for the plant, contributing to an annual reduction of approximately 3,000 tons of CO

Development in the 2010s

In 2012, with the start of the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) program for renewable energy, Kirishima Shuzo installed power generation equipment to utilize surplus biogas. 2014 saw the start of "sweet potato power generation," producing approximately 7 million kWh of electricity per year (enough for approximately 2000 households). Through the sale of electricity to Kyushu Electric Power Company, the company successfully generated annual revenues of approximately 200 million yen. In addition, compost extracted from shochu dregs is increasingly being used in local agriculture, contributing greatly to the fertility of farmland.

Furthermore, Kirishima Shuzo promoted the upgrading of its composting equipment and energy recovery system in order to improve the efficiency of the manufacturing process and reduce environmental impact. As a result, the company has established a system in which the majority of energy used throughout the plant is generated in-house.

Initiatives for the 2020s

In the 2020s, all plants will process approximately 850 tons of shochu dregs per day, generating approximately 34,000 cubic meters of biogas. This amount is equivalent to the energy needed to power approximately 22,000 households. At the Head Office Expansion Plant and the Shihida No. 2 Expansion Plant, 60% of the annual fuel consumption is covered by biogas, resulting in an annual reduction of approximately 4,500 tons of CO₂. Part of the biogas produced is used to generate electricity, which is then supplied to each household.

In 2023, the Kirishima Sweet Potato Seed and Seedling Production Center "Imo Terrace" will be in operation, supplying healthy seedlings to 1,200 registered farmers. We are evolving as a "recycling-oriented company" that completes the entire process from raw material production to waste recycling.

Summary

Kirishima Shuzo's efforts to effectively utilize waste and reduce the environmental impact of shochu production have made a significant contribution to the sustainability of the local community. This history is widely regarded as a pioneering example that can serve as a model for other companies seeking to transition to a recycling-oriented society.