As an initiative for recovery from the catastrophe at the Fukushima I nuclear power station, Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc. has proposed making the affected region into a huge center of power generation fueled with wood-based biomass.
Forest land accounts for some 70% of the area highly contaminated with radioactive material in Fukushima Prefecture.
Once logged for the purpose of decontamination, these forests will be transformed into tens of millions of tons of waste wood. The idea is to use this wood as fuel while controlling the release of radioactive material from it in forms such as ash. The project would help to breed new industries and create employment, which is essential for regional recovery.
The proposal holds interest for its linkage of the decontamination work, which is going to require an enormous amount of funds over the long term, to revival of the local economy. Because the idea is to use radioactive waste, it will probably be hard to find acceptance in the vicinity of prospective sites for power plants using the waste wood as fuel. Active discussions on this proposal are expected.
