Host launches first biogas project in Japan

Dutch bioenergy installation firm Host has launched its first biogas project in Japan. Working in partnership with Techno System, a Japanese energy firm, Host has signed a contract for a 550kWe biogas power plant project in Ishigaki Island, off the south-west coast of Japan. The plant will provide electricity from manure, grass and other organic waste to power around 1,300 homes.

This will be Host’s first project in Japan, marking a milestone for the company’s global expansion. Host CTO Marcel te Braak said: “Japan is one of the most important markets for Host in Asia with supportive circumstances for renewable energy and new technology, which we continue to serve together with Techno System, our Japanese partner in energy systems. We are thankful for this promising collaboration.”

The signing ceremony took place at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Tokyo, Japan, and was attended by His Excellency, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for Japan, Mr. Peter van der Vliet, as well as high-level Embassy delegation of the Department of Agriculture.

Using organic waste and biomass, the project helps the two companies to work towards their sustainability goals. Ambassador Peter van Vliet said: “This project is exemplary in terms of sustainable food and energy production, supporting the development of circular economies, contributing to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

“It is also an excellent example of partners from our two countries joining forces and working together to find innovative solutions to social challenges we are facing today.”

Due to the remote location of the biogas plant, the biomass feedstock is likely to vary and guaranteeing constant availability may prove difficult. However, Host’s technology makes it possible to process a wide range of biomass streams, according to CEO Herman Klein Teeselink: “Host biogas plants are known for their high economic performance, and contribute to ensuring the success of a circular economy by producing renewable energy, solving waste management challenges, and creating valuable end-products from organic waste. We strive to be a market leader and a major global actor with our most advanced biogas plants.”