THE MICROALGAE/BIOMASS INDUSTRY IN JAPAN - AN ASSESSMENT OF COOPERATION AND BUSINESS POTENTIAL WITH EUROPEAN COMPANIES
Tokyo, April 2016
Manuel Herrador
I
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents I Disclaimer and Copyright Notice III Acknowledgements IV Executive Summary V List of Abbreviations VI List of Figures VIII List of Tables XII
1. INTRODUCTION 2 1.1. Microalgae 2 1.2. Microalgal Biomass 9 1.3. Products Derived from Microalgal Biomass 12
2. THE MICROALGAE INDUSTRY IN JAPAN 21 2.1. Profile of Microalgae Industry in Japan 23 2.1.1. Main Strains of Microalgae Used in Japan 24 2.1.2. The AIIC (Algae Industry Incubation Consortium, Japan) 27 2.1.3. The Japan Association for Microalgae Fuels (JMAF) 28 2.1.4. The International Symposium on Algal Biomass (ISAB) 29 2.1.5. Algae Science Japan 30 2.1.6. Tsukuba 3E Forum 32 2.1.7. Tsukuba System of International Strategic Zone 42 2.1.8. Core Laboratory for Algal Biomass and Energy System 43 2.1.9. Initiatives for Next Generation Aviation Fuels (INAF) 44 2.1.10. Newest Trends on Microalgae in Japan 49 2.2. Profile of Biomass Industry in Japan 53 2.3. Support Provided by the Japanese Government 68 2.4. Analysis of 7 Notable Initiatives (extracted from interviews) 73
3 THE MICROALGAE INDUSTRY IN THE EU 95
3.1. Overview of Relevant EU Projects 95 3.2. List of EU Companies 101 3.3. Support Provided by the EU 107
II
4 POTENTIAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR EU COMPANIES 111 4.1. Opportunities of the Japanese Market 111 4.2. Challenges of the Japanese Market 113 4.3. Recommendations for EU Companies 114
5 CONCLUSIONS 116
6 REFERENCES 121 ANNEX 1: LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE ALGAE INDUSTRY
INCUBATION CONSORTIUM (AIIC) OF JAPAN 131
ANNEX 2: VIRTUAL MAP OF THE EU AND JAPANESE COMPANIES 148 ANNEX 3: CONTACT POINTS OF EMBASSIES IN TOKYO 149
ANNEX 4: A POTENTIAL CIRCULAR ECONOMY BUSINESS MODEL BASED ON MICROALGAE
153
A.4.1. Introduction to the Circular Economy in the EU and Japan 153 A.4.2. A Potential Circular Economy Business Model Based on
Microalgae 160
A.4.3. The Circular Economy Business Model of Microalgae in the Context of the Circular Economy Package
163
III
DISCLAIMER AND COPYRIGHT NOTICE
The information contained in this publication reflects the views of the author and not
necessarily the views of the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation, the views of the
EU Commission or Japan authorities. The author believes that this paper is reliable and
reasonably clear. While utmost care was taken to check and translate all information used
in this study, the author and the EU-Japan Centre may not be held responsible for any
errors that might appear. This report does not constitute legal advice in terms of business
development cases. The author can be reached at: [email protected]
EU-Japan Centre for industrial Cooperation
mailto:[email protected]
IV
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First, I would like to thank Mr. Jora (General Manager of the EU-Japan Centre for
Industrial Cooperation) for all the support received, for the patience shown and for the
advice received in order to improve the preparation of policy reports and the report itself.
Secondly, I would like to thank to Mr. Mura for believing in me since the interview in the
selection process.
I would like to specially thank the MINERVA fellows: Guillaume, Ines, Jrome and
Ryuichi, but without forgetting about Mr. Suzuki, and the rest of the office partners from
the EU and Japanese sides: Edgar, Etsuko, Fumiko, Giuseppe, Hiromi, Kana, Luca, Marco,
Masanori, Masayuki, Michael, Naoko, Noriko, Sam, Satoru, Shiori, Stijn, Toshiro, Yasue,
Yayoi, Yoko, Yukiko, Yuko and Yumi.
Finally, I wish to express my thanks to EUGLENA INC., ISUZU Motors, Dr. Watanabe and
Dr. Inouye from the University for Tsukuba and the Algae Industry Incubation Consortium
(AIIC) Japan, respectively, for the interviews provided, and also to the ones willing to
collaborate in this report having interviews, networking and exchanging emails.
V
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This work has its main focus on the Industry of Microalgae in Japan mainly involving the
products derived from Microalgal biomass, in order to create joint business opportunities
with EU Companies.
In terms of size, the Industry of Microalgae in Japan consists of a small number of
stakeholders - Companies, Public Administration and Universities -, the number could be
around 100, however, when compared with EU countries and considering the size of the
country, this specific Industry is one of the most developed worldwide.
This paper has been divided into 6 sections (Figure 0);
(1) An introduction to Microalgae, Microalgal biomass and products Derived from
Microalgal Biomass.
(2) The Industry of Microalgae in Japan.
(3) The Industry of Microalgae in the EU.
(4) Potential business opportunities for EU Companies including challenges of the
Japanese market and recommendations for EU Companies.
(5) Conclusions (including a SWOT diagram) and future perspectives.
(6) 4 Annexes; the first annex contains a list of member of the Algae Industry
Incubation Consortium of Japan (AIIC); the second annex is represented in 2 virtual maps
shows stakeholders and EU Companies of the sector; the third annex lists the contact
points of Embassies in Tokyo, and lastly, a fourth annex depicts a potential Circular
Economy Business Model based on Microalgae.
Figure 0. Structure of the report.
Conclusions & Annexes
Business Opportunities for the EU Companies
Industry in Japan and in the EU
Introduction
VI
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
Abbreviation Meaning
EU European Union
CE Circular Economy
Company Small and Medium Enterprise
UN United Nations
COP-21 United Nations Conference on Climate Change
METI Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
CO2 Carbon Dioxide
ACE Actions for Cool Earth
PBR Photobioreactor
CCS Carbon Capture and Storage
Mt Millions of tons
LNG Liquified Natural Gas
R&D Research and Development
GHG Green House Gas
kWh Kilowatt-hour
Kl Kiloliters
RPF Refuse Paper and Plastic Fuel
FIT Feed-in tariff
BDF Bio-diesel fuel
JPY Japanese Yen
kW Kilowatts
CDM Clean Development Mechanism
J-VER Japan-Verified Emission Reduction
JORE Japan Organics Recycling Association
NEDO New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization of Japan
BTL Biomass gasification and liquefaction
TSS Total Suspended Solids
DAF Dissolved Air Flotation
DHA Docosahexaenoic acid
EPA Eicosapentaenoic acid
PLA Poly-Lactic Acid
PCB Polychlorinated Biphenyl
3R Reduce, Rehuse and Recycle
DfE Design for Environment
LCA Life-cycle assessment
AD Anaerobic Digestion
AIIC Algae Industry Incubation Consortium
ANA All Nippon Airways
HHV Higher Heater Value
VII
HTL Hydrothermal liquefaction
HRT Hydraulic Retention Times
AOAIS Asia-Oceania Algae Innovation Summit
MAFF Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
FY Fiscal Year
TF Task Force
JCR Journal Citations Report
ORP Oxidation-reduction potential
CEN European Committee for Standardization
USA United States of America
H2020 Horizon 2020
MIC Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
NICT National Institute of Information and Communications Technology of Japan
NCP National Contact Point
CONCERT Connecting and coordinating European research and technology development
COSME Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium Enterprise
JETRO Japan External Trade Organization
EEN Enterprise Europe Network
NCP National Contact Point
JEUPISTE Japan-EU Partnership in Innovation, Science and Technology
JBCE Japan Business Council in Europe
EU-BRT EU-Japan Business Round Table
ErP Enterprise resource planning
WEEE Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive
RoHS Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive
REACH Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals
PEF Product Environmental Footprint
EIG European Interest Group
STI Science Technology and Innovation
EUR Euros
ISO International Organization for Standardization
VIII
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure Description
0 Structure of the report.
1 Various species of Microalgae and their biomass-based product applications [3].
2 A photobioreactor (PBR).
3 An integration of Microalgae cultivation and possible application.
4 Cultivation systems: (a) unstirred pond, (b) raceway pond and (c) circular pond [10].
5 Cultivation closed systems: tubular (a), photobioreactor (b), airlift (c) and flat plate (d) [10].
6 Process flows of harvesting methods for recovery and dewatering of microalgal biomass. Drying is optional, depending on the selected downstream process for conversion of Microalgae to bio-fuels and/or bioproducts [11].
7 Biomass extracted from Microalgae harvesting [12].
8 Chemical composition of microalgal species of different groups.
9 A p
