Current Status of Biomass Power in Japan (2011)

Ratio of Japanese domestic power generation from biomass by source as of March 2010 (installed capacity) *Excluding biomass-coal co-firing power generation

The cumulative installed capacity for power generation from biomass in Japan grew by a little more than 2% over the previous year, with no major changes in the overall current trend, compared to a 7.5-times increase between 1990 and the end of 2009. Power generation from waste accounted for 92.6% of the total, with municipal waste contributing 56% and industrial waste 36.6%.

Biomass power production from wood and food/livestock, which are seen as promising sources of renewable energy at the local level, have also shown a dramatic increase since 2002. However, power production using woody waste from forests remains relatively unchanged at about 6%, highlighting the need for revitalization of the forest industry as well as the cascading use of forestry biomass resources through active utilization of domestic lumber.

References:

• Renewables Japan Status Report 2011 (Japanese):
  http://www.re-policy.jp/jrepp/JSR2011/

Back to Current Status of Renewable Energy in Japan

This information is provided with a grant from Artists Project Earth.