Japanese Firms Eye Plant-Based Biocoke Fuel To Cut CO2 Emissions

Biocoke, a solid fuel made from vegetable waste, is gaining attention as one technology that can help accelerate the transition to a low-carbon society. Kindai University in Higashiosaka, Osaka Prefecture, developed it in 2005 as a "dream solid fuel" that emits virtually no carbon dioxide (CO2) when burned.

Photo Insert: Biocoke

On June 19, 2022, Mai Suganuma reported for Mainichi Shimbun that Japan's restaurant sector and workshops in traditional industries are considering using biocoke as an alternative fuel, while research continues to bring down costs and get it into mass production.

Biocoke is created by shredding dried vegetable matter into millimeter-sized particles and compressing it under extreme pressure. The material is then heated to approximately 180 degrees Celsius before being formed into cylinders. Biocoke has a combustion temperature of over 1,000 degrees Celsius, which is comparable to coal coke.

In April, Oitomi, a traditional Nambu ironware company in Oshu, Iwate Prefecture, experimented with using biocoke bricks made from apple lees and tree bark to melt cast iron instead of coal coke.

Akira Kikuchi, senior managing director of Oitomi, evaluated the iron kettle, wind chime, and paperweight produced in the experiment, concluding that "there were more sparks than with coal coke alone, but there's no difference in quality."

Oitomi typically consumes around 20 metric tons of coal coke per year. The workshop agreed to participate in the biocoke experiment with Japan's legal commitment to achieve carbon neutrality (zero net greenhouse gas emissions) by 2050 in mind.

CO2 emitted when vegetation is burned is not counted as an emission because it was originally removed from the atmosphere by the plants. As a result, biocoke is said to emit almost no CO2 and is expected to help reduce climate change.

Kikuchi said that changes in the international situation also prompted the traditional workshop to turn to biocoke. Japan relies on imports for most of its coal needs, with roughly 180 million tons of the stuff coming into the country in 2021, according to preliminary figures. About 10% of that volume came from Russia.

Changes in the international circumstance, according to Kikuchi, prompted the traditional workshop to turn to biocoke. Japan imports the majority of its coal, with roughly 180 million tons expected to enter the country in 2021, according to preliminary figures. Russia accounted for about 10% of that total.

Since 2021, coal prices have jumped and remained high, and is now further exacerbated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

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