GE Powers Japan's Largest Wood Gas Plant

The Yamagata’s Murayama site runs completely on gasified wood chips, without any backup fuel supply. The facility uses wood biomass from nearby forests that include trimmed cherry tree branches. By 2010, Japan is planning to increase renewable energy production to 3 percent of the country’s overall energy supply. Additionally, as part of its renewable energy strategy, Japan is planning to expand its use of biomass fuel up to 330 MW by 2010.

“This project represents the first order of large-scale wood gas engines for GE Energy in Asia,” said Prady Iyyanki, CEO of GE’s Jenbacher gas engine business. “We look forward to working with our customers in Japan as we apply our respective specialty gas engines and their gasification technologies to help the country meet its commitments under Kyoto.”