The status of biomass utilization in Japan is shown in Fig. 7.13.1. Livestock waste is used as compost etc., food waste as compost and animal feed, lumber-mill residue as energy and fertilizer, construction-derived wood residue as paper production, particleboard production, animal bedding material, combustion etc., sewage sludge as construction material and compost, non-edible portions of farming crops as compost, animal feed, animal bedding material etc. paper waste as recycle and heat production, black liquor as combustion use. Forestry residue is not any used.

Bio diesel fuel from waste cooking oil is produced around 3,000 t/year. Bio-ethanol production is almost in R&D stage, and bio-ethanol is produced commercially 1,400 kL from waste wood in 2007. Test sales of ETBE-mixed gasoline (3%-EtOH equivalent) and E3 just started in 2007.

Energy crops is not tried yet. Introduction is limited due to the limited land and high labor cost, although test production of sugarcane and ethanol production is going on in Okinawa.

7.13.2 Successful example

The First Energy Service Co., Ltd., commercially collects waste wood and produces electricity. They established 3 power generation companies using waste wood; 10,000 kW at Iwakuni Wood Power Co., Ltd., 11,500 kW at Shirakawa Wood Power Co., Ltd., and 12,000 kW at Hita Wood Power Co., Ltd.

7.13.3 Other comments

Non

Further information

MAFF webpage: http://www. maff. go. jpAi/biomass/index. html

Utilization □ Non-utilization I