Gas Engines and Gas Turbines for Small Biomass Power Generation - Late 1990s to Early 2000s

Gas Engines and Gas Turbines for Small Biomass Power Generation - Late 1990s to Early 2000s
Gas engine and gas turbine technologies for small biomass power generation attracted attention in the late 1990s and early 2000s against the backdrop of a turning point in Japan's energy policy and environmental technologies. As global warming countermeasures and the formation of a recycling-oriented society became clear policy issues, people became aware of the need for a shift from dependence on fossil fuels and the need for distributed energy systems that utilize local resources.

At that time, biomass utilization was mainly for heat utilization and large-scale power generation, and there were technical limitations for small-scale distributed power generation. In particular, biogas and pyrolysis gas have low calorific value and unstable composition, making stable operation difficult with conventional generators. To address this issue, gas engines that can burn even low-calorie gases and micro gas turbines with high fuel adaptability have been improved.

Small power generation technologies ranging from a few kW to 100 kW class were expected to be used in combination with livestock waste biogas facilities and woody biomass gasification facilities, and cogeneration-type applications, including in-house consumption of generated electricity and utilization of waste heat, were anticipated.

Although institutional support was limited in the early 2000s, this technology was positioned as a fundamental technology supporting the transition to a decentralized energy society.