ElectraTherm successful brings another geothermal generator online in Japan

A Power+ unit of Electratherm on site in Beppu, Japan (source: Electratherm)

Alexander Richter 23 Apr 2018

In a release today, Reno, Nevada based ElectraTherm, announces the commissioning of a Power+ Generator® at a geothermal site in the northern part of Japan. The geothermal heat forms an onsen (hot spring) where the local community has enjoyed bathing at this natural resource for centuries. The Power+ installation offers another resource to the community. The generator runs off a low temperature geothermal resource and the baseload renewable power generated is sold to the local utility at an attractive feed-in-tariff rate. The installation also reduces the cost of cooling the onsen water that is otherwise too hot for bathing. This marks the second Power+ Generator in Japan utilizing geothermal heat to generate fuel-free, emission-free electricity.

ElectraTherm utilizes the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) and proprietary technologies to generate up to 65kWe of electricity at the site. The Power+ Generator captures low temperature heat ranging from 77°C to 116?C and flow rates up to 45.4 m3/hr. Unlike other renewable sources, geothermal heat is baseload, providing a continuous flow of hot water and therefore power generation capabilities 24/7. The geothermal resource captures hot water —  the fuel used by the Power+ to drive the ORC cycle and turning ElectraTherm’s twin screw power block, driving an electric generator to make clean electricity.

ElectraTherm’s Power+ Generators utilize waste heat on applications such as internal combustion engines, biomass boilers, incinerators, geothermal and also flare to power methane utilization at wastewater treatment plants and oil & gas fields. ElectraTherm’s Power+ fleet of 60+ global installations has exceeded 815,000 hours of run time. A list of reference sites is currently available on the company’s website.

Source: Company release