Tokyo, 27 July (Argus) — Japan's biomass consumption rose for the fourth consecutive month in April against a year earlier, up 7.1pc to 161,979t.

Consumption by Japan's 10 main utilities increased by 24.7pc to 9,646t, while wholesalers and other consumers lifted their use by 6.1pc to 152,333t, according to the Japan electric association.

The stronger biomass consumption compares with marginal growth of coal for power generation purposes. Japan's coal consumption in April totalled 4.72mn t, up only 0.6pc from a year ago. This points to power producers increasingly expanding the proportion of biomass at their units using both coal and biomass.

The higher use of biomass comes amid lower Japanese thermal generation in April, which fell by 6.3pc to 38,350MWh from a year previously with increased nuclear and hydroelectric output.

April's increased biomass consumption contributed to boosting total use for the first four months of this year to 651,203t, up 17.5pc from 554,311t for the same period last year. Consumption among utilities and wholesalers rose to 39,047t and 612,156t respectively, up 23.7pc and 17.1pc during the period.

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