East Japan Railway exploring geothermal power option in Aomori
Train in Aomori Prefecture, Japan (source: flickr/ Syuzo Tsushima, creative commons)
Alexander Richter
9 Dec 2013
East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) is planning the development of a small geothermal power project in the Tohoku region in Aomori Prefecture, Japan together with partners Kawasaki Heavy Industries and general contractor Obayashi Corp.
Japan’s railway, mostly connected to its fast Shinkansen trains, has been under pressure due to its massive electricity demand and the challenges following the nuclear disaster at Fukushima.
East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) is one of seven Japan Railway Group Companies. The company is now looking at its own power development, a geothermal plant in Aomori Prefecture and a wind farm in Akita Prefecture. The development is supposed to assist the development activities in the Tohoku region.
Construction, so the company, could already start in early 2014 with an environmental impact study and preliminary project work.
The company works together with Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. and Obayashi Corp. and is currently surveying the land in Aomori. The resource for the plant is expected to be at a depth of 1,500 meters. The power from the plant is planned to be sold to Tohoku Electric Power Co. It can be assumed that the project is not a large-scale development.
Source: The Japan News
