Concerns grow over ‘green’ biomass power in Japan after spate of accidents
For the past decade, Japan has been expanding the use of woody biomass for power generation to replace or be mixed and burned with coal. The country is now the second-largest wood pellet consumer in the world after the U.K. But there are concerns that burning wood pellets or palm kernel shells to generate electricity […]
For the past decade, Japan has been increasing its use of woody biomass for power generation as a replacement or mixed fuel for coal. Currently, Japan ranks as the world's second-largest consumer of wood pellets, following the United Kingdom. However, there are growing concerns over the safety of burning wood pellets or palm kernel shells to produce electricity.
Over the past few years, at least 14 fires, explosions, and accidents have occurred at biomass power plants across Japan. These incidents, coupled with rising prices, pollution worries, and mounting opposition, have prompted some to question the viability of Japan's large-scale biomass plants, of which there are an estimated 34 with a combined capacity of 3.5 gigawatts.
Living near these plants or advocating for Japan to transition towards decarbonization, many people are relieved that accident and pollution concerns are growing. An Nakane, a campaigner with Friends of the Earth Japan, expressed these concerns to Mongabay, stating that explosions at biomass power plants in Japan have been occurring too frequently.
Despite this, regulations are often applied too leniently. Nakane urged the government to encourage operators to develop business plans that prioritize the safety of nearby residents. At a biomass power plant in Japan's Okinawa, tanks storing palm kernel shells and wood pellets can be seen.
Written by urgent.news from Mongabay's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
