Kawasaki Biomass Power Station to Begin Operations in Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan

Japan’s biggest 100% wood biomass fired thermal power facility would commence operations on 1st February 2011.

The 33 MW Kawasaki biomass power station is located in Kanagawa Prefecture. It would utilize 180,000 tons of wood chips in a year sourced from construction sites. Before the plant starts operations a final inspection is being undertaken. Sumitomo Joint Electric Power and two other companies jointly own the Kawasaki plant. Once it starts operating, it is expected to run continuously for 24 hours every day other than maintenance downtime. The power generated would be acquired by JX Nippon Oil and Energy, which leases the power plant land and its adjacent wood chip production unit.

Japan also has a few more 100% wood biomass fired power plants such as the 13.6 MW Agatsuma Biopower power plant in Gunma Prefecture owned by Orix and Tokyo Gas; and the 21 MW Gonoike Bioenergy power plant in Ibaraki Prefecture owned by Mitsubishi and two other companies. However, the Kawasaki biomass power station is much bigger than the above plants with regard to output.