JAPEX, Shizuoka Gas & Power, Tokyo Energy & Systems, and partners commissioned the 50MW Tahara Biomass Power Plant in Tahara City, Aichi Prefecture, on April 1, 2025.
According to the statement, the generated power, expected to be about 350GWh annually, will be sold to Chubu Electric Power Grid through a 20-year, 24 yen per kWh feed-in-tariff (FIT) contract. The plant will run on imported wood pellets.
Tokyo Energy & Systems will be handle operations and maintenance (O&M). JAPEX’s wholly-owned subsidiary JAPEX Green Energy will be responsible for asset management. Shizuoka Gas will operate Tahara Biomass Power Plant LLC, the special purpose company that owns the project.
Construction of the asset began in March 2023 with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in charge alongside Tokyo Energy & Systems, which provided owner’s engineering services. Project finance was arranged by SBI Shinsei Bank.
All of the involved companies invested in Tahara Biomass Power Plant LLC through tokumei kumiai (silent partnership). JAPEX holds a 39.9% interest, Shizuoka Gas’s wholly-owned subsidiary Shizuoka Gas & Power holds 20%, as does Tokyo Energy & Systems. The remainder is split among Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen Kaisha (7%), Daiichi Jitsugyo (6%), Iwatani (5%), EF Investment (2%), and Solariant Capital (0.1%).
The power plant is the second JAPEX-led biomass project to begin operation in the last few months. Its 75MW Chofu Biomass Power Plant in Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, was commissioned on December 30, 2024.
Tahara City is home to multiple other biomass power plants including the 75MW Aichi Tahara Biomass Power Plant owned by Marubeni, Enewill, and Osaka Gas due to its coastal location, which facilitates fuel import.
