Japanese government plans wood-burning plants

25 June 2011


The Japanese government intends to set up power plants that will burn the wooden wreckage left behind by the March earthquake and tsunami. This is an attempt to solve two problems – debris disposal and power shortages. Power supplies are expected to be constrained this summer, and shortages may continue if a number of nuclear power plants remain offline.

Five of the new power plants will be constructed in the worst affected areas, including Iwate and Miyagi prefectures. Each facility will generate 10 MW, enough to power 3000 typical households. The disaster is said to have generated 20-30 million tons of rubble, including about 5 million tons of wood that can be used as fuel, according to the government. After all the debris has been cleared, the facilities will continue to run, fuelled by wood from forest thinnings. About two-thirds of Japan is forested, and the waste is rarely put to any use. In 2009, forest thinning produced 8 million tons of wood.

The costs are expected to be slightly higher than those of running wind and solar power facilities, so the government is setting aside 10 billion yen to subsidise firms that take on the project.




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