Japan-based Renova Inc. on Sept. 6 announced startup of its 75-megawatt (MW) Omaezakikou Biomass Power Plant will face additional delays. The facility is now expected to begin operations in March 2025.
The facility was originally scheduled to begin operations in December 2023. In a December 2023 announcement, Renova said that additional time was needed to make final adjustments to the boiler and turbine facilities to ensure long-term stable operation at the facility, with expected operations pushed to March. Subsequent statements issued in February 2024 and July 2024 further delayed the expected startup date to July 2024 and October 2024, respectively.
Renova on Sept. 6 announced that additional time is required to make final adjustments to the boiler and turbine facilities of the plant to ensure long-term stable operations.
The company also indicated it has rescheduled the feed-in-tariff (FIT) period of the project. In addition, Renova said the project has received liquidated damages from the EPC for a certain period of time due to the change in the start of commercial operation based on the EPC contract.
Once operational, the Omaezakikou plant will be fueled by wood pellets and palm kernel shells.
The Omaezakikou Biomass Power Plant is one of several biomass power plants developed by Renova. In November 2023, the company announced its 75-MW Morinomiyako Biomass Power Plant had begun operations. The following month Renova announced startup of its 74.8 MW Tokushima Tsuda Biomass Power Plant, while the 75 MW Ishinomaki Hibarino Biomass plant began operations in March 2024. Additional Renova biomass plants that are currently operational include the 20.5 MW Akita Biomass facility and the 75 MW Kanda Biomass plant. The 49.9 MW Karatsu Biomass facility is currently under construction.
