1. German - Japanese Wood Biomass Day

Energetic utilization of wood biomass: The German-Japanese Wood Biomass Day 2013 in Tokyo and Morioka

Since the catastrophe of Fukushima there is a shift in Japan towards new energy supply sources. The Japanese government has pushed and focused on renewable energies, especially solar energy, wind energy and the utilization of biomass. High feed-in-tariffs for electricity, produced by renewable energies and subsidies support this shift massively in order to leave nuclear energy supply behind and turn towards environmental-friendly energy sources. An important regional resource is biomass. The energetic potential of biomass in Japan with 1,300 PJ is nearly the same as in Germany (1,240 PJ). The total potential for wood biomass is in fact even higher as in Germany.

However, compared to Germany this market is still not developed and there is a great backlog demand with respect to efficient technologies and infrastructure. The German-Japanese Wood Biomass Day as a German-Japanese Symposium shall therefore act as a platform for experience exchange and support the scientific collaboration between these two countries. Especially research with focus on utilization of biomass energy offers a great potential for German-Japanese cooperations.

Basically Japan has a great potential for the utilization of biomass, in the sector of wood biomass, as well as the remnants of the wood-processing industry, the paper industry, agriculture and the biological waste of households and the food industry.At the moment the utilization of biomass focusses on the use of local organic waste because an intense cultivation of energy crops is difficult to realize due to the limited place available for agriculture.

Within the framework of the energy shift movement Japan plans to support the energetic utilization of wood biomass. The funding policy of Germany’s government is considered as an important orientation factor for the Japanese government.

In particular, the sector of electricity generation using biomass is currently experiencing an intense rise due to newly introduced feed-in-tariffs of up to 33.6 YEN / kWh (equals about 33.6 cents / kWh), depending on the nature and origin of solid biomass and even 40.95 YEN / kWh (equals about 40.95 cent/kWh) for biogas (in comparison with Germany: max. of 22.3 cent/kWh).

The reputation of German products in the sector of energetic utilization of solid biomass (for example pellet- and shredded wood boilers, fixed- and fluidized bed combustions) is very good. The market opportunities, especially for high-efficient and high-quality products from Germany are therefor considered to be excellent. At the same time Germany can distinguish itself with its large experience in domestic sustainable forestry in Japan.

In Cooperation and with Support of

Contact:
Peter Beck
Tel: +49 (0)541-911 909 90
Email: pbeck@ecos.eu