English

TOPICS

We will have Bioenergy Forum 2015 "Global trend of wood pellets and development in Japan".

3ed March, Tokyo

5th March , Kyoto

13:00 Opening

13:30 Welcome

13:40 Greeting

Ayako Suzuki (Assistant manager, wood use section, Administration of forestry dept., Forestry Agency)

13:45 Keynote address 1

"European wood pellet market ―current situation and prospect of heat and power market―"

Dr. Christian Rakos (President, EPC)

14:30 Q&A

14:45 Keynote address 2

"Standardization and certification of wood fuels on EN/ISO"

Ms. Eija Alakangas (Principal Scientist, VTT)

15:30 Q&A

15:45 Coffee break

16:00 Topic 1

"Trends and challenges of Japan's wood pellet market"

Mr. Ken Kojima (Executive director, Pellet Club Japan)

16:20 Topic 2

"Wood stove market and development of sealed-type FF pellet stove"

Mr. Masao Takehira (President, Shimotani Inc./ Chairman, Stove Committee of Pellet Club Japan)

16:40 Q&A

17:00 Closure

17:15 Get together

Further information, PDF

GREETING

The Preparatory Meeting for Pellet Club Japan has been worked to prevail wood pellet through the workshops, business meetings, symposium, website and etc. since established in 2001. Thanks to membership's understanding and kind support, our membership has kept increasing. Now we have 364 memberships including 4 in overseas countries as of March 2004.

The circumstances of wood pellet in Japan had been rapidly changed in these three years. In fact, the number of wood pellet's plant has been increasing; 3 plants started their operation in 2002, 6 in 2003 and 2 in 2004. Production and sale of combustion appliances are also being in plentitude; there are 10 manufacturers and 7 importers of pellet stove, 2 manufacturers and 2 importers of pellet burner and 2 manufacturers and 3 importers of pellet boiler.

However, when we see the current situation of distribution and sale here in Japan, it can be found we're still in strict situation. Reinforcement of infrastructure and setting up the standardization for distributing wood pellet are required. Also, to make a coalition not as an individual manufacturer but as the trade and to make wood pellet's market grow are required for providing the information and dealing with troubles of customers which keep increasing, and deregulation. We think it is essential to make a network with NGOs/NPOs, works on woody biomass and emerges one after another throughout Japan, and to exchange the information with each other for that woody biomass become permanently established in Japan not as a mere boom.

In our symposium on March 5th, as well as verifying the contents and meaning of our activities, we declared dissolution of the Preparatory Meeting for Pellet Club Japan. Also, we announced establishment of "Pellet Club Japan" in the General Meeting 2003 on March 6.

3-years preparatory term to discuss about "how Pellet Club Japan should be?" with deliberating the Japan's failure 20 years ago and listening to internal and external opinions is over. From April 2004, we will start to work more actively as a newborn "Pellet Club Japan".

It would be greatly appreciated if we have your continuous understanding and support for our activities.

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:

• Information is maldistributed and too much technical: it is difficult to understand.
• Equipments are large in comparison with fossil fuel's: it is difficult to deal with.
• Heat from bioenergy is not supposed to be used in houses (residential and commercial sector)
• Position in energy policy is vague: the risk of primary investment is high.
• 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:

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

RULES of the Pellet Club Japan

(Organization's name)

Art.1

The organization's name is "Pellet Club Japan".

(Objective)

Art.2

The preparatory meeting for Pellet Club Japan aims to prepare for establishing "Pellet Club Japan (provisional name)", which is a network to prevail production, distribution and consumption of wood pellet fuel.

(Activities)

Art.3

To achieve Art.2, the preparatory meeting for Pellet Club Japan works on activities as follows:

1. Collect, provide and exchange the information about production, distribution and consumption of wood pellet fuel
2. Exchange opinions about how Pellet Club Japan is
3. Other activities to achieve Art.2

(Membership)

Art.4

Membership of the preparatory meeting for Pellet Club Japan consists of individuals and groups that agree with its aim.

• Member takes responsibility for the activities and works to achieve the objective
• Member has to leave in case the meeting decides

(Board members, Auditor, Secretariat)

Art.5

The preparatory meeting for Pellet Club Japan sets its board members, auditor and secretariat to manage meeting's activities smoothly

• Board members, auditor, and secretary-general are as listed below PDF file (bottom of this page)
• Board members give appropriate advice to achieve the aim of the meeting
• Secretary-general manages all activities with consulting with board members
• Secretary-general elects board members and auditor
• Secretariat is managed under the cooperation among board members, auditor and secretary-general

(General meeting)

Art.6

In addition to an annual general meeting, board members and secretary-general can decide to hold another general meeting in the same year. Also, in case majority of membership demands, general meeting has to be held.

• ffSubjects of general meeting are as follows:
  1. Scheme of activity, budget
  2. Report of activities, statement of accounts
  3. Amendment of the rules
  4. Matters to be decided to establish "Pellet Club Japan (provisional name)"
• Decision of the general meeting is reached by majority of attendance

(Working funds)

Art.7

Working funds of the preparatory meeting for Pellet Club Japan is donation and income from its activities

（Accounting）

Art.8

Fiscal year of the preparatory meeting for Pellet Club Japan is from July 1 to June 30

Additional rule

This rule is validated from October 31, 2001

That's all.