Commercial operations at the 53MW Chokai Minami in Japan started in early November 2024, burning a combined 200 kt/y of imported wood pellets and palm kernel shells. Generating around 330 GWh/yr of electricity, this will be sold for 20 years through the feed-in-tariff (FIT) scheme, which offered 24 yen plus tax per kWh when the power plant was FIT certified in February 2017.

The power plant is operated by Chokai Minami Biomass Power, which is 75% owned by Tohoku Electric Power, 15% by renewable energy developer Olympia and 10% by a subsidiary of Japanese gas supplier Shizuoka Gas. Chokai Minami is Tohoku’s first biomass-only combustion project. 

The company also has an 89% stake in the 2MW Yokote and Yuzawa biomass power plants in Akita Prefecture, which are expected to be commissioned in June and October 2026, respectively. Separately, it has a 20% stake in the 50MW Niigata Higashiko Biomass Power Plant, which is expected to begin commercial operation next month.