COD announced for Nakao geothermal power plant, Japan
Completion ceremony of the Nakao geothermal power plant, Gifu Prefecture, Japan (source: video screenshot, NHK News)
Carlo Cariaga
30 Nov 2022
Commercial operations of the Nakao geothermal power plant in Japan, a joint venture of Toshiba Energy Systems and Chubu Electric, is set to commence.
Commercial operations have officially commenced for the Nakao Geothermal Power Plant located in Okuhida Onsengo, Takayama City in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. The double-flash power plant has a maximum output of 1,998 kW which will be sufficient to supply the power needs of about 4,000 households.
The Nakao geothermal power plant was built by Nakao Geothermal Power Co. Ltd., a joint venture of Toshiba Energy Systems Co. Ltd. and Sea Energy Co. Ltd., part of Chubu Electric Power Group. Construction of the power plant has been underway since 2021 with an investment of 4.5 billion yen (approx. USD 32.2 million). All the electricity produced by Nakao Geothermal Power will be sold to the Chubu Electric Power Grid.
Initial plans for the development of a geothermal power plant in Nakao were first reported in 2013, although Toshiba had been originally partnered with Orix Corp.
On November 30, a ceremony was held to celebrate the completion of the project. In attendance was Toshiba President Toru Shibagaki who emphasized that the project will “co-exist and co-prosper with the local community.” High-temperature fluids from a resource beneath Mt. Yakedake is converted to electricity in the power plant. The separated brine is then supplied for free to Nakao Onsen Co. Ltd. which is then distributed to the nearby hotels and inns.
According to Nakao Geothermal Power, it is rare to see a geothermal power plant distributing separated brine to local hot springs, and that they expect this to be a new model case for collaboration between power plant and hot spring facilities.
Source: NHK News
