The Shiga prefectural government, Higashi-ohmi municipality and Yanmar Co., Ltd. started joint research on a wood biomass power generation system in April this year.The experimental facility at the AitoMaterialCenter* in Higashi-ohmi city was completed on September 17 and the tests began recently.They are scheduled to continue for 3 years until 2009.
Lumber chips, trimmed branches, bamboo and many other wooden materials produced in Higashi-ohmi city are being used for the tests.The gaseous fuel produced from these materials can be used in dual fuel cogeneration. The system generates power (22KW/h) and heat stably even on this low calorie gas.
The hope is that wood biomass will not only rein in the consumption of fossil fuels and CO2 emissions but also produce ripple effects in the effective use of waste materials, vermin control in the local hills and mountains, revitalization of mountain villages, and flood control through forestry preservation work.
Besides this research on energy conversion technologies, the joint study will tackle such related tasks as identifying the most appropriate ways to collect and transport biomass wood material, effective power and heat applications and optimization of the total system. A Biomass Utilization Committee has been set up in cooperation with ShigaPrefectureUniversity.
The Higashi-ohmi municipality aims to be a model community for the resource recycling society.It also has a major rape blossom project for making BDF.The combined use of bio-diesel fuel and wood biomass energy will be incorporated into the community model in due course.
Yanmar develops and distributes highly efficient and durable cogeneration systems and is eager to build up new energy technology schemes through the use of the biomass fuels.
The Shiga prefectural government, Higashi-ohmi and Yanmar are creating the composite energy system for wood biomass material collection, conversion and application, promoting the self-sustaining energy community and diffusion of these approaches.
*Warehouse owned by Higashi-ohmi city (location: No.7-1, Namazue-cho, Higashi-ohmi city, ShigaPrefecture)
|
| |
Forestry Improvement Dept., Environment Agricultural Administration Div., Higahi-ohmi Local Promotion Bureau, Shiga Prefecture
Tel.: 0748-22-7717 Fax.: 0748-22-8798
Livelihood Environment Dept., Livelihood Environment Div., Higashi-ohmiCity
Tel.: 0748-24-5633 Fax: 0748-24-0752
Technical Development Group, Bio Gas Power Generation Div., Environment Project Development Div, Yanmar Co., Ltd.
Tel.: 0749-52-8422 Fax.: 0749-52-6346 |
|
