Japan adds biomass power capacity in Jul-Sep 2023

Japan's biomass power generation capacity under its feed-in-tariff (FiT) and feed-in-premium (FiP) rose during July-September 2023.

Japan added around 152MW of biomass power capacity during the quarter, lifting the total commercial capacity under the FiT and FiP schemes to 6,302MW as of the end of September, according to trade and industry ministry data. The capacity addition during July-September was below the 311MW increment in the same period in 2022 and the 201MW increase the previous quarter.

The installed capacity fed by general woody biomass and crop residue totalled 3,716MW at the end of September, higher by 31.4pc from the previous year. Capacity firing with unused woody biomass climbed by 12pc from a year earlier to 534MW. Methane gas fermentation rose by 13pc to 97MW, while capacity fed by general waste increased by 15pc to 508MW. Capacity using construction waste also climbed by 57pc to 135MW.

Japan's operational biomass power capacity totalled 7,178MW as of the end of September, including 876MW that was installed before the FiT was introduced in July 2012 but not transferred to receive support from the schemes. This total capacity accounts for 90pc of Japan's new biomass power target of 8,000MW by the April 2030-March 2031 fiscal year.

Total purchase costs for biomass power supplies under the FiT scheme reached ¥3.53 trillion ($23.6bn) for 136.4TWh from July 2012 to September 2023.

By Nanami Oki