Turning Food Waste into Energy: Methane Power Plant Opens in Sagamihara City
Food waste is now being converted into energy at Sagamihara Biogas Power, a new methane power plant aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
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In Sagamihara City, the Japan Food Ecology Center, Inc. (J.FEC), in collaboration with other partners, has established a power company called Sagamihara Biogas Power. On November 8, a power plant fueled by methane gas derived from food waste was officially opened. On the same day, the city inked a collaborative agreement with both companies, underlining their joint commitment to raising awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
From Food Waste to Energy
J.FEC specializes in processing food waste into animal feed. At the newly inaugurated power plant, the company ferments waste with a heavy content of oils and salt that is unsuitable for feed. The fermentation process produces methane gas that is used as fuel to generate power.
The plant is projected to achieve an annual revenue exceeding ¥200 million JPY (approximately $1.5 million USD) from electricity sales. The Bank of Yokohama was among the institutions financing the ¥1.1 billion JPY (roughly $7.3 million USD) construction costs.
J.FEC collects food waste from approximately 180 locations, including local food factories and supermarkets. Until now, items not suitable for recycling were incinerated.
The collaborative agreement between the two companies and the city encompasses initiatives to promote awareness of the SDGs and advance a decarbonized society. In an address, Mayor Kentaro Motomura stated, "We aspire to communicate a sustainable Sagamihara to the world."
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