Sawmill Joint Venture to Have Large-Scale Power Generation from Woody Biomass

One of Japan's largest biomass power plants using only waste wood will be launched jointly by Mitsubishi Corp., a major trading company, and Chugoku Lumber Co., it was announced on August 2, 2005. This on-site power plant will be located in Chugoku Lumber's Kanto Factory which is now under construction in Kamisu City, Ibaraki Prefecture.

The power generation operations are to be conducted by Gonoike Biomass Energy Co., a fifty-fifty joint venture established in July 2005 by Mitsubishi and Chugoku Lumber. The new plant, with a generating capacity of 23,000 kilowatts, is scheduled to start operation in July 2008. Using bark, sawdust and other waste wood from the Kanto Factory, the power plant will generate electricity and steam to meet the entire energy requirements of the factory. Surplus electricity will be sold to power companies.

The key feature of this on-site generation is its reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions; the use of woody biomass readily available on site can eliminate the need to transport it elsewhere, an activity that would emit CO2. Moreover, woody biomass is considered "carbon-neutral," meaning that it does not release any additional CO2 by its combustion, as it absorbs CO2 while alive. The annual reduction in CO2 emissions is expected to reach an amount equivalent to that from burning 38,000 kiloliters of crude oil.

By launching the on-site power system, Chugoku Lumber aims to reduce its environmental impacts and reduce costs in lumber production. Mitsubishi see on-site power generation projects as a strategic business area, and is looking to expand business by establishing on-site power companies that are tailored to the needs of each client.

http://www.mitsubishicorp.com/en/index.html

Posted: 2005/12/25 03:23:47 PM
Japanese version