Toyota Tsusho Completes Ehime Prefecture's First Wood Biomass Power Plant
- Realizing regional economic vitalization and local energy production for local consumption -

  • Machinery, Energy & Project

2017-11-06

Toyota Tsusho Corporation announces that Group company Ene-Vision Co., Ltd. completed the wood biomass Matsuyama Biomass Power Plant in November 2017. The power plant, operated by Ene-Vision subsidiary Ehime Forest Generation, LLC established in January 2015, is scheduled to begin power generation operations in January 2018.

Key features of biomass power generation

By 2030, the Japanese government plans to raise the ratio of renewable energies in the national energy mix to 22~24%, with 3.7~4.6% of this being generated by biomass fuels (*based on long-term energy supply and demand outlook published by Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry). Biomass power generation utilizes various kinds of materials traditionally disposed of as waste. Wood biomass is one of these materials. It includes wood chips, tree thinning, and other wood scrap produced during forest conservation and management activities like tree-thinning. Wood biomass power generation has the following advantages:

(1) Stable power generation unaffected by wind and other meteorological conditions
(2) Generation of direct employment through new jobs and regional economic vitalization
(Tree-thinning collection and wood chip production required for continual fuel production) 

Matsuyama Biomass Power Plant

Matsuyama Biomass Power Plant will use only wood biomass as its fuel, with a planned power output of 12.5MW. The plant’s main fuel source will be easy-to-burn wood chips derived from tree-thinning forest scrap and other unused forest materials from Ehime Prefecture. These chips will be mixed with imported palm kernel shells (PKS). About 70% of Ehime Prefecture’s total land area, or 401,000 hectares, is forested. The power plant will revitalize economic activity and generate new jobs in the local forestry industry and chip production, while promoting collaboration among regional organizations to support the local production and consumption of energy with a low environmental burden.

Reference

Matsuyama Biomass Power Plant

<Features>
First wood biomass power plant in Ehime Prefecture

<Overview>

Name
Matsuyama Biomass Power Plant
Location
3-10-21 Okaga, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture
Power output
12.5MW
Planned annual power output
Approx. 87,000 MWh
(equivalent to annual consumption of about 24,000 households)
Power receiving companies
Retail power companies


Overview of Ene-Vision

Company name
Ene-Vision Co., Ltd.
Business description
Proposal, design, construction, and maintenance of cogeneration equipment and energy-efficiency equipment
Establishment
March 1, 2002
Location
Nissay Bldg., 5th Floor, 4-1-29 Imaike, Chikusa Ward, Nagoya City
Representative
Koichi Wada, President
Capital
¥92 million
Shareholders
Toyota Tsusho, 56.5%
Yanmar Co., Ltd., 26.1%
Toyotsu Machinery Corporation, 8.7%
Toho Gas Co., Ltd., 8.7%
Employees
32 (as of October 2017)


Overview of Ehime Forest Generation

Company name
Ehime Forest Generation, LLC
Business description
Biomass power generation
Capital
¥15 million
Establishment
January 23, 2015
Location
3-10-21 Okaga, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture
Representative
Koichi Wada, Executive
Shareholders
Ene-Vision 100%
Employees
17 (as of October 2017)

The information in this release is current as of the date of announcement.
Please note that information may change after the date of announcement. Thank you in advance for your understanding.