Japan: Biofuels Annual
Japan’s current renewable energy policy focuses on the generation of power from solar, wind, biomass and geothermal sources. In April 2018, the Government of Japan (GOJ) extended its mandate to use 500 million liters (crude oil equivalent) of biofuels per year until 2022. It also revised its biofuel policy to allow up to 44 percent U.S. corn-based ethanol in imported bio-Ethyl Tert-Butyl Ether (ETBE), whereas before only Brazilian sugar cane ethanol was used. The revision also established an incentive for the introduction of next generation bioethanol (made from non-food sources). Japan continues to rely on woody biomass for cogeneration with coal, with imports reaching 506,000 metric tons (MT) in 2017.
