Japan to fund $19 million geothermal R&D program starting 2013
View to Mount Fuji at Nishi-Hirabatake Park, Japan (source: flickr/ TANAKA Juuyoh, creative commons)
Alexander Richter
10 Oct 2012
Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) is planning to provide funding of up to $19 million for a geothermal R&D program for private companies and universities that will support up to two-thirds of project cost on various technology development elements in geothermal energy utilization.
In efforts to promote geothermal energy development and generation in Japan, the country’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has decided to provide funding as part of a program to support private companies and universities on conducting technical development and research on geothermal power generation.
The program is expected to promote research and development on a wide range of subjects, including investigation into new geothermal power development, reduction of drilling cost and development of high-performance steam turbines for geothermal applications.
The budget planned for the financial year of 2013 is 1,500 million Yen ($19 million). While the funding is expected to be matched by companies or universities, the program will subsidize up to two thirds of the project cost.
Source: The Denki Shumbun
