Kobe City to Start Test Production of Biofuels from Coffee Grounds

Image by littlepepper.

Kobe City, Starbucks Coffee Japan and Kindai University announced, on December 2, 2016, that they will jointly carry out tests on the production of a biomass fuel from waste generated by stores, including coffee grounds and pruned trees, thereby recycling it as renewal energy.

In an effort to realize the "Eco-contribution City, Kobe" vision, Kobe City has been aiming to reduce business-based general waste emissions. In this test, they will produce a solid fuel called "Bio Coke" using pruned trees, and coffee grounds, paper cups, and other waste products from stores.

Bio-Coke is a solid fuel made from biomass such as thinned wood from forest management, coffee grounds and food waste developed by Kindai University Research Institute of Bio Coke in 2005. It has been receiving attention as a more carbon-neutral fuel, due to its production from plant-based waste resources.

Under the project, they will examine a system to collect and transport resources, to investigate problems with production and to consider where the fuel would be used. By recycling biomass as a local resource, Kobe City aims to not only reduce waste disposal and CO2 emissions, but also to enhance the public awareness for the environment with the visualization of a "recycle model for local resources".

Source: Smart Japan (in Japanese)