The estimated $169.67m project, which is scheduled to break ground around in April 2015, can generate 248GWh of electricity annually, the equivalent of powering 44,000 households.

NES will be responsible for the development, operation and fuel supply for the project.

NES president Naoki Yamaguchi said: "We believe it will contribute to a more stable energy supply and local economy, especially in the forest industry."

The three biomass plants will utilize materials including 15,000t of woodchips/month from domestic contractors.

NGPI president Nisha Joshi said: "We are in the day and age where we have to use technologies to convert any waste or remains into energy and keep the cycle going.

"This will not only help clean the waste from the world’s growing population, but also keep up with the growing energy demand."
The project is looking for the plant operator for a minimum of 20 years including periodical maintenance.

The power generated by the project will be sold under a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) through the feed-in tariff program (FIT).