Mitsubishi, KEPCO move forward with 200-MW biomass conversion in Japan

Japan’s Mitsubishi Corp (TYO:8058) and Kansai Electric Power Co Inc (TYO:9503), or KEPCO, have arranged non-recourse financing for a joint 200-MW biomass project in Japan.

The scheme will involve the conversion of the 375-MW second unit of Kansai Electric’s Aioi power station, which previously used heavy oil/crude oil, into a biomass-powered facility with a capacity of 200 MW. Aioi Bioenergy Corp, the joint venture (JV) formed last April to develop the project, has agreed to get a non-recourse loan to initiate the plant design and equipment procurement, Mitsubishi said on Monday.

Located in western Japan’s Hyogo Prefecture, Unit 2 of the Aioi power station has been offline since April this year. Following the conversion, it will start using woody biomass as fuel. The upgraded facility is planned to be switched on again in January 2023 and will operate as a base load plant.

Aioi Bioenergy was set up in order to promote and develop biomass power generation in Japan. Kansai Electric is its majority shareholder with a 60% stake, while Mitsubishi Corporation Power Systems Inc (MCP) holds 40%.

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