The 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake triggered widespread blackouts across the entire Hokkaido region—the first power outage of such scale in Japan’s history. This event prompted a re-evaluation of the country’s power supply system.

Traditionally, Japan relied on a centralized power infrastructure, where electricity was transmitted one-way from large-scale power plants. However, the earthquake caused failures in and around multiple power plants, and as safety systems were activated, even undamaged facilities shut down in sequence, resulting in a widespread blackout.

In response, Distributed Generation has gained attention in recent years as a way to build more disaster-resilient energy infrastructure.

Distributed Generation refers to small-scale energy systems that supply power to nearby areas. Unlike centralized systems managed by major utilities, these systems are spread across regions—hence the term “distributed.” The Energy Supply Resilience Bill, approved by the Cabinet in February 2020, also emphasizes the role of disaster-resilient distributed power systems. By diversifying energy sources, these systems help reduce risks during emergencies.
Distributed Generation includes various forms of renewable energy, such as biomass and solar power.

Yanmar’s biogas cogeneration systems feature stand-alone operation capabilities, allowing them to continue supplying power even during blackouts. In addition to fossil fuel-based systems like natural gas and diesel, Yanmar offers a wide range of distributed solutions, including biomass and waste heat recovery systems. Please feel free to contact us for more information.