Monthly Report

Saibu Gas makes foray into biomass generation, indirectly invests in 900kW plant under development in Kumamoto

July 18, 2024
Thinned Wood
The power plant will be fueled by local thinned wood.

Saibu Gas made its first investment in biomass power generation, the company announced on July 17, 2024. The company did so indirectly through a ‘tokumei kumiai’ (silent partnership) with Biomass Investment Fund LLC, which will invest in Aso Biomass LLC.

Aso Biomass LLC is currently developing a 900kW biomass power plant in Atogase, Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture. The power plant will be fueled using local thinned wood and use heat generated during power production for drying wood chips that will then fuel the plant. The power plant is expected to commission in 2025 and generate 7GWh per year.

The Agency for Natural Resources and Energy’s records show that a 900kW Aso Biomass LLC power plant yet to be commissioned was feed-in-tariff-certified in September 2021. Once the power plant becomes operational, the company will be able to sell the generated power at guaranteed 40 yen per kWh (the feed-in-tariff in effect for biomass power plants using thinned wood in FY2021 and today) for 20 years.

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