Aichi Prefecture Converts Sewage Sludge into Carbonized Biomass Fuel

Carbonized biomass fuel from sewage sludge and the production facility
Copyright Aichi Prefecture

Aichi Prefecture, in central Japan, started producing carbonized biomass fuel on April 2, 2012, utilizing sewage sludge at a facility built in the Kinuura Tobu Sewage treatment Center. It plans to produce 2,700 tons of carbonized biomass fuel annually which will then be used at the adjacent Chubu Electric Power Co.'s Hekinan Thermal Power Plant for the next 20 years starting from fiscal 2012.

This initiative aims to effectively utilize the sewage sludge which is expected to increase along with the further expansion of sewerage systems in the future. Compared to conventional sludge combustion methods, this sludge treatment method can reduce about 4,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions a year. Moreover, a total of 8,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions is expected to be reduced when combined with the amount of emissions that can be avoided by mixing the fuel in place of coal at the coal-fired plant.

In addition, the produced fuel will be sold to Chubu Electric Power, reducing the sewage treatment cost.

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Posted: 2012/07/03 06:00:15 AM