Japan-headed forest industry major, Nippon Paper Industries Co. Ltd, has announced it has held the initial firing ceremony for the Ishinomaki Hibarino Power Plant, a 149 MWe mixed coal-biomass-fired power facility located in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture.
Jointly owned by Nippon Paper (70 percent) and Mitsubishi Corporation Power Ltd (30 percent), Nippon Paper Ishinomaki Energy Center was formed in May 2015, while construction of the Ishinomaki Hibarino Power Plant began in December 2015.
The construction has progressed as planned. The power plant will enter into commercial operations in March 2018, following another trial run and testing of the facility.
Characteristically, the power plant permits mixed combustion using woody biomass.
To realize a high biomass blending ratio, Nippon Paper Ishinomaki Energy Center seeks to contribute to the preservation of domestic forests by using unused woody materials, mainly from Tohoku, including Miyagi.
In addition, it will purchase wood pellets from Asia and North America to further increase the biomass blending ratio.
As a comprehensive biomass company “shaping the future with trees,” Nippon Paper aims to create new value.
In April 2017, the adjacent Nippon Paper Ishinomaki Mill commenced the mass production of cellulose nanofiber, in addition to manufacturing printing/business communication paper.
