Current Status of Biomass Town Concept - 2020s

Current Status of Biomass Town Concept - 2020s

In the 2020s, the Biomass Town concept is making further progress, and local governments across Japan are accelerating their efforts to utilize local resources. In particular, in regions such as Taiki Town in Hokkaido and Imabari City in Ehime Prefecture, the use of biomass is becoming more active, both revitalizing the local economy and reducing the environmental burden.

Case Study of Taiki Town, Hokkaido
In Taiki Town, a biogas plant for methane fermentation of livestock manure from dairy farming is in continuous operation well into the 2020s, and by 2023 the annual throughput will reach 15,000 tons, enough to power approximately 1,500 households. Furthermore, the plant promotes recycling-oriented agriculture by composting the residue left over after fermentation and returning it to local agriculture. Hitachi Zosen provided the technology for this project, and the introduction of an efficient methane fermentation process has resulted in a 20% increase in biogas production.

Case Study of Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture
In Imabari City, power generation using woody biomass is expanding. Using waste wood from local sawmills and wood processing industries, the city annually produces about 80,000 tons of woody biomass as fuel, and plans are underway to supply enough electricity to power about 7,000 households by 2024. Sumitomo Forestry is taking the lead in this project, and the latest biomass combustion technology is being introduced. In addition, emissions from the power plant are strictly controlled and carbon dioxide emissions are reduced by about 40% compared to conventional thermal power generation.

Biomass Center in Miyakonojo City, Miyazaki Prefecture
In Miyakonojo City, Miyazaki Prefecture, the Miyakonojo Biomass Center will be opened in 2022 to generate biomass power using local agricultural residues and food waste. The facility processes approximately 50,000 tons of biomass annually, making effective use of local industrial waste. MC is the project lead for the Miyakonojo Biomass Center, and new technology has been introduced at the facility to use methane gas generated from the waste for power generation, which is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 50%.

Technological Evolution and Corporate Participation
In the 2020s, the Biomass Town concept will also see remarkable technological innovation, with improvements in biomass combustion efficiency and methane fermentation technology. This has resulted in a 10% increase in energy generation efficiency and an increase in waste recycling rates. As for companies, Mitsubishi Corporation, Sumitomo Forestry, Hitachi Zosen, and others are leading the development and introduction of biomass-related technologies and supporting projects in their respective regions. With the cooperation of these companies, the regional biomass towns have become even more sustainable, and it is expected that new municipalities will join this initiative in the future.

Conclusion.
The biomass town concept in the 2020s plays a central role in Japan's energy policy by effectively utilizing local resources and promoting renewable energy. Local companies and municipalities are working together to introduce the technology and accelerate efforts to build a sustainable society, and further developments are expected in the future.