Objective

Background

Utilization of Biomass as one of energy sources is effective for preventing global warming, energy security, and improvement of local employment through activation of forestry industry. Especially, from the standpoint of global warming and energy security, bioenergy should be made positively use as an alternative of fossil fuel energy. Advantages of utilization of bioenergy here we mention are as follows:

1. Effective for preventing global warming
2. Improve energy security
3. Effective way to use un-used resources like forestry residues and wastes
4. Improve atmospheric and residential environment

But the using system of bioenergy has not promoted in Japan yet. Total amount of returned lye, waste timbers, biomass power accounts for only about 0.8% of primary energy supply (as of 1999)*1.

There are some possible reasons as follows:

1. Information is maldistributed and too much technical: it is difficult to understand.
2. Equipments are large in comparison with fossil fuel's: it is difficult to deal with.
3. Heat from bioenergy is not supposed to be used in houses (residential and commercial sector)
4. Position in energy policy is vague: the risk of primary investment is high.
5. Formation of the market is delayed: it is difficult for the industries, citizen, and public administrations to start to work.

But the Government shows their intention to introduce the using system of bioenergy positively in Japan in the near future*1. In such case, ordinary direct combustion will be mainly introduced with consideration of the degree of maturity of Japan's bioenergy technology. Direct combustion of biomass can generate both heat and electricity. But in view of our daily life, small-scale heating in residential and commercial buildings seems the most effective way to use bioenergy in medium and long term.

Japan Center for Climate Change Actions (JCCCA) and Woody Biomass Forum think that the using system of wood pellet fuel is beneficial, as local people can work on from grassroots level and the technology is applicable to small-scale heating, without generating electricity. To promote to prevail wood pellet throughout Japan, we have held successive workshop since May 15, 2001. We think that enlivening activities at local level and building a network for prevailing wood pellet fuel by holding successive events are significant to use bioenergy - an energy source with regionality.

*1)"Draft report of New Energy Division (May 2001)", New Energy Division, General Investigating Committee of Natural Resources and Energy, Natural Resources and Energy Agency

Objective

The objective of building a network is to exchange correct information to prevail wood pellet fuel. We would think it would be possible that the using system of wood pellet fuel is adequately introduced in Japan's society by collecting maldistributed information and opening them to the public.

To build the network, we assume to establish "Pellet Club Japan" as a mother body. And in advance of that, we established "The preparatory meeting for Pellet Club Japan". Therefore, the primary objective is to establish Pellet Club Japan, but the aim is common. It will hold the successive workshop and discuss about subjects as follows:

1. Current condition of Pellet fuel (production, distribution and consumption, etc)
2. Restudying 70's activities on woody biomass energy in Japan
3. Introduction of new projects of wood pellet production
4. Put problems on distribution of wood pellet in order
5. Current and potential demands for wood pellet
6. Import/development/sale/conservation of combustion appliances (Certification and standard of certification of combustion appliances in Europe and the US, etc.)
7. Standardization of pellet fuel (Progress in Europe and the US, etc.)

Position

Pellet Club Japan doesn't aim to be an industrial group like pellet producer, maker of pellet production machine and maker of pellet burner. Pellet Club Japan is a non-governmental organization which mainly aims to promote sharing and providing information as a clearinghouse and getting bring agreements among citizen, local authorities and industries that are interested in wood pellet. The information and all of our studies will be open to anyone who is interested in wood pellet.