Economic and Environmental Analysis of Woody Biomass Power Generation Using Forest Residues and Demolition Debris in Japan without Assuming Carbon Neutrality

Despite the increasing importance of renewable energy worldwide, the argument that forest biomass power generation is not carbon neutral has been rising. This research used Gifu Biomass Power Co., Ltd. (GBP) in Japan as a case study to investigate this matter. An evaluation was conducted through an...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Masaya Fujino, Masaya Hashimoto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-01-01
Series:Forests
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/1/148
_version_ 1797442388268941312
author Masaya Fujino
Masaya Hashimoto
author_facet Masaya Fujino
Masaya Hashimoto
author_sort Masaya Fujino
collection DOAJ
description Despite the increasing importance of renewable energy worldwide, the argument that forest biomass power generation is not carbon neutral has been rising. This research used Gifu Biomass Power Co., Ltd. (GBP) in Japan as a case study to investigate this matter. An evaluation was conducted through an input–output analysis on the economic and environmental benefits (i.e., CO<sub>2</sub> reduction) of forest biomass power generation without assuming carbon neutrality. GBP’s economic benefits were estimated to be 3452.18 million JPY during the construction period and 114.38 million JPY per year from operations. It was also estimated to generate 21.77 jobs per year in the forestry sector. CO<sub>2</sub> emissions were estimated to increase by 423.02 tons during the construction period and 137,747 tons per year from operations. Although forests may offset CO<sub>2</sub> by absorbing it, woody biomass power generation does not necessarily reduce CO<sub>2</sub> emissions in Gifu Prefecture. The results indicate that woody biomass power generation is effective for the local economy but not necessarily for the global environment. The analysis should include more industrial sectors to clarify the environmental significance of wood biomass power generation without assuming carbon neutrality.
first_indexed 2024-03-09T12:41:09Z
format Article
id doaj.art-bc9652f673e04d128bff5ea0ff17ef07
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1999-4907
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-09T12:41:09Z
publishDate 2023-01-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Forests
spelling doaj.art-bc9652f673e04d128bff5ea0ff17ef072023-11-30T22:18:24ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072023-01-0114114810.3390/f14010148Economic and Environmental Analysis of Woody Biomass Power Generation Using Forest Residues and Demolition Debris in Japan without Assuming Carbon NeutralityMasaya Fujino0Masaya Hashimoto1Faculty of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Fukushima University, Fukushima 9601248, JapanMizuho Financial Group, Inc., Tokyo 1008176, JapanDespite the increasing importance of renewable energy worldwide, the argument that forest biomass power generation is not carbon neutral has been rising. This research used Gifu Biomass Power Co., Ltd. (GBP) in Japan as a case study to investigate this matter. An evaluation was conducted through an input–output analysis on the economic and environmental benefits (i.e., CO<sub>2</sub> reduction) of forest biomass power generation without assuming carbon neutrality. GBP’s economic benefits were estimated to be 3452.18 million JPY during the construction period and 114.38 million JPY per year from operations. It was also estimated to generate 21.77 jobs per year in the forestry sector. CO<sub>2</sub> emissions were estimated to increase by 423.02 tons during the construction period and 137,747 tons per year from operations. Although forests may offset CO<sub>2</sub> by absorbing it, woody biomass power generation does not necessarily reduce CO<sub>2</sub> emissions in Gifu Prefecture. The results indicate that woody biomass power generation is effective for the local economy but not necessarily for the global environment. The analysis should include more industrial sectors to clarify the environmental significance of wood biomass power generation without assuming carbon neutrality.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/1/148CO<sub>2</sub> emissionforestryGifu Prefectureinput–output analysisrenewable energyripple effect
spellingShingle Masaya Fujino
Masaya Hashimoto
Economic and Environmental Analysis of Woody Biomass Power Generation Using Forest Residues and Demolition Debris in Japan without Assuming Carbon Neutrality
Forests
CO<sub>2</sub> emission
forestry
Gifu Prefecture
input–output analysis
renewable energy
ripple effect
title Economic and Environmental Analysis of Woody Biomass Power Generation Using Forest Residues and Demolition Debris in Japan without Assuming Carbon Neutrality
title_full Economic and Environmental Analysis of Woody Biomass Power Generation Using Forest Residues and Demolition Debris in Japan without Assuming Carbon Neutrality
title_fullStr Economic and Environmental Analysis of Woody Biomass Power Generation Using Forest Residues and Demolition Debris in Japan without Assuming Carbon Neutrality
title_full_unstemmed Economic and Environmental Analysis of Woody Biomass Power Generation Using Forest Residues and Demolition Debris in Japan without Assuming Carbon Neutrality
title_short Economic and Environmental Analysis of Woody Biomass Power Generation Using Forest Residues and Demolition Debris in Japan without Assuming Carbon Neutrality
title_sort economic and environmental analysis of woody biomass power generation using forest residues and demolition debris in japan without assuming carbon neutrality
topic CO<sub>2</sub> emission
forestry
Gifu Prefecture
input–output analysis
renewable energy
ripple effect
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/1/148
work_keys_str_mv AT masayafujino economicandenvironmentalanalysisofwoodybiomasspowergenerationusingforestresiduesanddemolitiondebrisinjapanwithoutassumingcarbonneutrality
AT masayahashimoto economicandenvironmentalanalysisofwoodybiomasspowergenerationusingforestresiduesanddemolitiondebrisinjapanwithoutassumingcarbonneutrality