Sumitomo to build 75-MW biomass plant in Japan

Jul 14, 2014 - Japanese trading firm Sumitomo Corp (TYO:8316) said today it would construct a 75-MW biomass power facility on Honshu island, eastern Japan for the electric power retail operations of subsidiary Summit Energy Corp.

The Handa biomass station will be installed in the city of Handa, Aichi prefecture. It calls for an investment of about JPY 20 billion (USD 197m/EUR 145m).

Sumitomo intends to kick off construction activities at the project site close to the port of Kinuura around August and put the plant on stream within fiscal 2016/17.

Summit Energy already has a 50-MW biomass power plant in Itoigawa, which has been operational since 2005. The firm and its parent said they plan to take advantage of Japan’s renewables feed in-tariffs so they are planning several solar and wind projects. The firms have already initiated a feasibility study for another biomass project in eastern Japan. In addition, Sumitomo and are Summit Energy “actively seeking out new customers” ahead of the full deregulation of the electricity retail market and intend to install more than 1,500 MW of renewable capacity in the next five years.

(JPY 100 = USD 0.986/EUR 0.725)

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!