A consortium of 10 companies led by Chubu Electric Power has brought the 52.7MW Fukuyama biomass power plant in Hiroshima Prefecture into commercial operation, adding dispatchable renewable capacity to Japan’s evolving corporate energy market.
Operated by Fukuyama Biomass Power Generation LLC, the facility is expected to generate approximately 380GWh annually—enough to supply around 120,000 households—while offering a more stable generation profile than intermittent sources such as solar.
Biomass supply chain and industrial collaboration
The plant uses a mix of imported wood pellets and domestically sourced wood chips derived from thinned timber in the Chugoku region. Its coastal location supports efficient fuel logistics while promoting regional forestry utilisation.
The project brings together stakeholders across utilities, trading, construction, and logistics, reflecting the operational complexity and capital intensity of biomass-based generation.
Rising demand for time-aligned renewable energy
The project highlights a broader shift in Japan’s renewable procurement landscape. Corporate PPAs have historically relied heavily on solar power, but growing scrutiny of Scope 2 emissions is driving demand for more precise, hourly matching between electricity consumption and renewable generation.
Japan has lagged in hourly matching due to structural constraints in its power system. However, dispatchable renewables such as biomass offer a pathway to more predictable supply, suggesting early signs of change at the project level as companies seek higher-quality decarbonisation solutions.
Source: https://www.chuden.co.jp/energy/renew/topics/fukuyama03.html