After the 2011 earthquake and disaster at the Fukishima nuclear plant, or“Higashi Nihon Daishinsai,” Japan had to look for alternative sources of sustainable fuel and heating, such as wood pellets, chips and palm kernel shells (PKS). As the world’s largest market for these materials, Japan represents a big opportunity for the bioeconomy. As old coal plants are phased out in Japan, the use of wood pellets, chips and PKS in co-firing plants is expected to continue increasing. Construction of new dedicated biomass power plants across Japan is also expected to increase. The first Japanese power plants using 100 per cent wood pellet fuel are expected to come online in the coming years, which means demand for wood pellets will increase. “Wood chips are here to stay,” thanks to high demand for the materials from other industries, including the paper industry and particle/MDF manufacturing sector.However, the number of 100 per cent PKS-fueled plants are decreasing because of sustainability ...