<article><p class="lead">Japanese biomass power company Forest Energy plans to begin commercial operations at a 7.1MW biomass-fired power generation plant at Fukui city in the central prefecture of Shizuoka by the October 2023 to March 2024 period. </p><p>The company plans to use 90,000 t/yr of wooden biomass, mainly unused biomass accumulated within Shizuoka, to generate electricity at the plant. Forest Energy registered the plant to the country's feed-in-tariff (FiT) scheme in April.</p><p>Forest Energy is also targeting to start commercial operations at a 1.8MW biomass power plant in Japan's western prefecture of Wakayama by the spring of 2021. The plant will consume 20,000 t/yr of domestic unused wooden biomass.</p><p>Japanese firms, including non-energy companies, are getting involved in biomass power projects to take advantage of the FiT scheme that ensures power producers can sell electricity for 20 years at a fixed price.</p><p>Japanese upstream company <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2168613">Japex</a> is buying a 39.9pc stake in the 75MW Chofu biomass power project at Shimonoseki city in Yamaguchi, as it looks to enhance its renewable energy business.</p><p class="bylines">By Nanami Oki</p></article>