Japan’s Renova starts up Tokushima-Tsuda biomass plant

Japanese renewable power developer Renova started commercial operations at its 74.8MW Tokushima-Tsuda biomass-fired power generation plant in the southern prefecture of Tokushima on 9 December.

Renova plans to consume 300,000 t/yr of imported wood pellets and palm kernel shells to generate around 500 GWh/yr of electricity. Renova may also consider using domestic woody materials in future.

Renova started selling power during a trial run that began in October 2022. All power was sold under Japan's feed-in-tariff scheme to regional utility Shikoku Electric Power at a fixed price of Y24/kWh ($0.16/kWh) over 20 years.

The company originally planned to begin operating the plant by March, but this was rescheduled to May because of facility inspections. Renova again postponed the launch to August, then to December.

Renova owns a 60.8pc stake in the Tokushima-Tsuda plant, while utility Osaka Gas holds a 33.5pc stake as part of its aim to expand its renewable business. Forestry and wooden biomass power developer Forest Bank, wood material supplier Dairi FCP and engineering firm Tokushima Denki Sangyo own 1.9pc each.

Renova also started operations at its 75MW Sendai Gamo biomass power plant on 18 November. It plans to start up its 75MW Omaezaki biomass power plant within this month and its 75MW Ishinobaki Hibarino biomass-fired power plant by January 2024.

By Nanami Oki