Former refinery plot to house 49MW biomass plant in Japan

A new large-scale biomass-fired power plant is to be built in Japan as energy company Showa Shell Sekiyu pursues new ways to deliver renewable energy to the nation.

The 49MW renewable power station will be built on the site of Showa's former Ohgimachi plant at the Keihin refinery complex. The project will fall under the Japanese government's renewable energy feed-in tariff scheme.

The new plant's coastal location means it will be strategically placed for ships to conveniently deliver the biomass, which will be made up of wood and palm kernel shells.

In addition to this plant, Showa recently received approval to expand its LNG-fired Ohgishima power plant and solar power plants. The company says it 'will continue to maximise the potential of oil – its core energy source – while developing new energy sources that answer the demands of society like solar power and ever-more efficient, clean electricity to deliver stable energy supply'.

Ground is set to break on the plant in May 2014, with operations expected to begin at the end of 2015.