Even as we strive to promote renewable energy generation projects, we are engaged in biomass fuel-related operations as part of our efforts to supply energy from sources with lower carbon footprints. Specifically, we are developing black pellets, a biomass fuel that can be co-fired with coal at coal-fired power stations to reduce CO₂ emissions. Black pellets are made by pulverizing, drying, and roasting wood to semi-carbonize it.
Compared with conventional white pellets, black pellets boast superior properties, including water resistance, and are easier to crush. Along with these features, they can be handled in the same way as coal. This makes it possible to reduce coal consumption without modifying existing power generation facilities while increasing the use of renewable energy sources in the form of black pellets.
In fiscal 2021, having conducted a co-firing test with coal at the Tokuyama Complex, we did the same at boilers at the Chiba Complex as well. We are currently preparing to begin commercial production in fiscal 2022. (The product name for our black pellets is Idemitsu Green Energy Pellets.)
We aim to supply 2.0 million tons of Idemitsu Green Energy Pellets in 2030 and plan to continue working to expand production sites, especially in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand.