- To Expand Renewable Energy at the Nippon Paper Group’s Shiraoi Mill (Yufutsu)
According to the company’s website news release on February 2, 2023, Sojitz Corporation (“Sojitz”) and Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. (“Nippon Paper”) jointly established a biomass power plant business, Yufutsu Energy Center, LLC (“Yufutsu Energy Center”), which began construction of a biomass power plant in May 2020. Construction has now been completed on the biomass fueled power plant (74.95MW), which stands as one of the largest biomass power plants in Japan. Following a trial run, the power plant starts its commercial operations on February 2, 2023.
The Yufutsu Energy Center operates its biomass power plant, which uses not only imported woodchips and PKS*, but also actively makes use of unused biomass resources in Hokkaido (such as thinned wood or forest residue). Effective use of this unused fiber helps to maintain the region’s forest environment as well as reinvigorates the local economy in Hokkaido by creating new employments and accelerating its industries.
Sojitz has involved in the developments and operations of solar power and wind power plants as renewable energy projects both in Japan and overseas. In forestry fields, Sojitz has produced, sold, and distributed woodchips in Vietnam and other countries for many years. The Yufutsu Energy Center will leverage Sojitz’s expertise and know-hows in renewable energy and forest products in order to provide a stable supply of electricity and contribute to regional development.
*Palm Kernel Shell (PKS)
