Estimating the long-term availability of unused materials for woody biomass power generation in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan

Abstract

This study estimated the supply potential and availability of unused materials for woody biomass power generation in the Japanese cedar and cypress forests of Tochigi Prefecture. Then, the long-term possibility of supplying fuel woods to the existing power generation plant and the locations of the newly established power generation plants were examined. As a result, supply potentials of used and unused materials were estimated at 1,003, 745 mVyear and 394,042 tons/year respectively, whereas those availabilities were estimated at 430, 561 mVyear and 169, 125 tons/year respectively. Although those availabilities were reduced to 102, 835 mVyear and 40, 110 tons/year, respectively, while considering profits of forest owners, this availability of unused materials could meet the demand of the existing power generation plant which consumed 35,000 tons/year. Furthermore, small-scale gasification power generation plants could be installed in two cities of Tochigi Prefecture using the surplus availability of unused materials with profits for forest owners.