Rengo Co., Ltd. announces that its consolidated subsidiary Taiko Paper Mfg., Ltd. (TPM) has partnered with Biomaterial in Tokyo Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Onojo-shi, Fukuoka Prefecture; President & Representative Director: Yoshiya Izumi) to commence a demonstration project to produce second-generation bioethanol*, which is the raw material for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
This demonstration project will be implemented with funding and commission from a national research and development agency, New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

* Second-generation bioethanol refers to bioethanol made from nonedible resources such as wood biomass, as opposed to first-generation bioethanol made from food resources such as sugarcane and corn. To be used as a CO2-reducing SAF, it must meet certain requirements for such as its raw material and fuel conversion process and be certified as a Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) eligible fuel.

To achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, there is a movement in the international aviation industry to make the introduction of SAF mandatory in each country. As global demand increases, Japan also urgently needs to develop technologies for the stable procurement of SAF using domestically produced raw materials.
With the aim of producing 20,000 kL of bioethanol annually by 2027, TPM will develop and demonstrate bioethanol production technology using kraft pulp produced from unused biomass resources, such as construction waste, as a raw material and enzymes internally produced from industrial microorganisms. The bioethanol will be converted to SAF by the fuel companies to which it is sold, and used as aviation fuel.

In parallel with the commencement of this demonstration project, TPM will review its business portfolio. In addition to introducing equipment for the demonstration project, TPM aims to improve quality and productivity and optimize material balance through upgrading the No. 5 paperboard machine and consolidating production on the No. 5 and No. 6 paperboard machines by shutting down the deteriorating No. 1 and No. 2 paperboard machines.
The Rengo Group regards addressing environmental issues as one of its core management issues and will continue to engage in a variety of initiatives, including developing products that reduce environmental impact and expanding the use of renewable energy.

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Rengo Co. Ltd. published this content on 20 February 2024 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 13 March 2024 23:39:02 UTC.