Policy Proposal of Woody Biomass Energy Use for Autonomy and Revitalization of Regions

Abstract

In this disquisition, first, the activity of Woody Biomass Iwate (WBI) after the Great East Japan Earthquake is described. Right after the disaster, WBI provided a bathhouse service with woodlog boilers in a refuge at Kirikiri, Otsuchi, Iwate. WBI also donated pellet stoves to three community centers after temporary housing was build. Second, WBI's policy proposal for wood biomass energy use is explained. There are fi ve basic concepts for autonomy and revitalization of local communities. The proposal concluded that we should give priority to a small-scale decentralized system for thermal utilization which has more ripple eff ects to the regions than a large-scale intensive power generation by woody biomass energy.