Concerns grow over ‘green’ biomass power in Japan after spate of accidents

Japan has become the world's second-largest wood pellet consumer, burning biomass alongside coal at 34 large plants generating 3.5 gigawatts, as part of a clean-energy feed-in-tariff scheme.

Since expansion began, at least 14 fires, explosions and accidents have hit these plants, including a Taketoyo explosion so forceful nearby residents suspected a missile strike, and a fatal oxygen-deprivation incident involving palm kernel shells in Ishinomaki.

Campaigners and industry watchers point to cost-cutting on fuel storage and construction as the likely culprit, while Japan's trade ministry METI says it has added new ministerial ordinance standards but has issued no fines or penalties to any operator, including JERA, the Taketoyo plant's operator, despite three incidents there.

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