The United Nation Conference on Climate Change in 2009 resulted
in the obligation of each greenhouse gas emitting nation
to announce their emission reduction target. In September 2009,
Japan announced its target to achieve 25% emission reduction
(compared to the 1990 level) by 2020 [1]. This would lead to large
scale modification or conversion of current coal-based combustors
in the country to newer and cleaner combustors, or the utilization
of carbon–neutral solid fuel such as biomass [2] or other renewable
resources in existing combustors as coal co-firing fuel. In addition,
industries in Japan depend largely on the imports of coal.