Morisora Biorefinery LLC
Morisora Biorefinery LLC
Morisora Biorefinery LLC
Morisora Biorefinery LLC
Morisora Biorefinery LLC
About Morisora Project / Morisora Biorefinery LLC
The Morisora Project is a challenge aimed at ensuring a stable supply of sustainable fuel for the future by effectively utilizing forest resources, which cover two-thirds of Japan's land area.
Japan's forests are currently facing a silent crisis known as "aging."
The number of old trees that are past their harvesting age is increasing, not only weakening the mountain's ability to absorb carbon dioxide, but also undermining the health of the mountain itself.
We made the choice to "cut trees properly and use them correctly in order to grow the forest."
Cutting down trees is not necessarily a bad thing.
It's a vital process that keeps forests healthy and breathes new life into them.
Using the latest technology, we will produce "pure domestic bioethanol" from properly harvested wood, thereby decarbonizing the sky.
After trees are cut down, "elite trees" that grow quickly and absorb large amounts of CO2 are planted in the mountains to promote the rejuvenation of the forest.
Connecting thoughts from the forest to the sky.
We will recycle resources, realize a carbon-neutral society, and simultaneously create a vibrant future for our region.
Background of the Morisora Project
Transforming the power of the forest into the power of flight.
Until now, Japan's forests have maintained a cycle of logging and reforestation by being used primarily as a raw material for paper. However, as demand for paper declines due to digitalization, this cycle is coming to a halt. Today's forests, which have lost their care and are increasingly populated with aging trees, are losing their ability to absorb carbon dioxide and are at a higher risk of landslides. We are creating new uses for wood and starting a cycle that will rejuvenate the forests once again.
For Japan, which relies heavily on imports for its energy, creating a system of local production and consumption that utilizes domestic resources is crucial. Japan is rich in forest resources. Within this context, bio-manufacturing technologies that utilize forest resources are attracting attention, as evidenced by the enactment of the Bioeconomy Strategy. By connecting production, supply, and utilization through a domestic supply chain, we aim to contribute to the revitalization of regional economies and job creation, while also striving to realize a sustainable society from the perspective of resource security.
Towards decarbonization in the aviation sector, the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is progressing. While technological development is underway to utilize ethanol as a raw material for SAF, the Mori-Sora Project aims to supply non-edible bioethanol derived from domestically produced timber, transforming "the power of the forest into the power of flight." Through the construction of a domestic supply chain, we will strive to achieve both stable supply and environmental value, contributing to the creation of a sustainable future.
The Morisora Project has three features that address these issues.
Utilizing wood in a cascading manner, without wasting any.
We play a part in the "cascade utilization of wood," which primarily utilizes offcuts and sawmill waste generated during the process of manufacturing building materials from coniferous logs. By using resources to their fullest extent, we achieve both effective utilization of forest resources and reduction of environmental impact.
Local production and consumption for regional revitalization
Ethanol derived from domestic wood has the advantage of being able to significantly reduce total CO2 emissions because it requires shorter transportation distances than imported ethanol made from edible raw materials, and because black liquor can be used in the manufacturing process.
To make the world's skies sustainable
After utilizing the timber, we encourage the replacement of the trees with "elite trees," which grow 1.5 times faster than conventional species and absorb more CO2. This will improve the efficiency of forestry management and support the circulation of the local economy and sustainable decarbonization from the local perspective.
The Morisora Project has three features that address these issues.
Utilizing wood in a cascading manner, without wasting any.
We play a part in the "cascade utilization of wood," which primarily involves using offcuts and sawmill waste generated during the process of manufacturing building materials from coniferous logs. By using resources to their fullest extent, we achieve both effective utilization of forest resources and reduction of environmental impact.
Local production and consumption for regional revitalization
Beyond simply utilizing timber, we will promote collaboration with "elite trees," which grow faster than conventional species after use, sequester 1.5 times more CO2, and produce less than half the amount of pollen. This will improve the efficiency of forestry management and create a cycle of resources and value, thereby supporting regional revitalization and sustainable decarbonization from the local level.
The fusion of the power of the paper and pulp industry and bio-manufacturing technology.
By combining the large-scale production capabilities cultivated by the paper industry—including wood procurement and collection, pulping, manufacturing, and quality control—with the bio-manufacturing technologies of bio-ventures, we will accelerate the implementation of biorefineries. Including the utilization of black liquor generated in the manufacturing process, we will connect this to bio-manufacturing that takes into account LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) perspectives while making multifaceted use of wood resources.
How domestic bioethanol is made from domestic wood
The "pure domestic bioethanol" produced by the Morisora Project will not only be used as a next-generation clean mobile fuel, but also as a chemical material used to make plastics and synthetic fibers, and even as a gasoline blend fuel. As a next-generation raw material that can replace fossil fuels in all aspects of modern society, it has the potential to become the foundation for supporting the decarbonization of Japan's entire industry.
Project Schedule
This project is following a roadmap toward steady social implementation, starting with the completion of a demonstration plant in Kuji City, Iwate Prefecture, scheduled for fiscal year 2026, followed by semi-commercial-scale manufacturing from fiscal year 2027, and aiming for the operation of a commercial plant that will enable a stable supply of tens of thousands of kL by fiscal year 2030.