Special Report on Cellulosic Ethanol: Japan veers from rice, aims for farm waste as CE feedstock in $32 million pilot project

In Japan, the agriculture ministry has been hard at work identifying potential projects to convert agricultura; waste to ethanol, in support of a small ethanol usage commitment from the national government.

Rice has been increasingly “off-limits” as a feedstock due to food vs fuel concerns. The ministry recently approved $32 million in subsidies for a pilot project that will make cellulosic ethanol from farm waste. The subsidies, which will support a joint venture formed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and the prefectural government of Akita, will be paid out over five years, and will cover 50 percent of project costs and 100 percent of running costs.

The pilot project has a projected capacity of 5,900 gallons. The project is the third supported by the Japanese government. Tasei and Sapporo Holding are partners in a second, on the island is Hokkaido, while Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and the Hyogo prefectural government are partners in a third.

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