Japan and Iceland agree on geothermal energy cooperation
Meeting between Japanese Minister Nishimura and Iceland Minister Thórdarson in Reykjavik, Iceland (source: METI Japan)
Carlo Cariaga
9 May 2023
Japan and Iceland have signed a joint statement for geothermal energy cooperation following an official visit of the Japanese Minister Nishimura Yasutoshi to Reykjavik.
On April 30th, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan H.E. Mr. Nishimura Yasutoshi met with Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate of Iceland H.E. Mr. Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson in Reykjavík to discuss the global energy situation and possibility of bilateral cooperation of renewable energy.
Minister Nishimura mentioned that most geothermal power plants in Iceland use turbines made by Japanese companies. For his part, Minister Thórdarson mentioned how geothermal energy is used in Iceland in various ways, including for both district heating and power generation.
Both ministers took note of the high potential of geothermal energy in both countries. To promote concrete cooperation, the ministers signed a joint statement on geothermal energy cooperation and decided to organize a working group to exchange information and expertise on geothermal energy between the two countries.
A visit to Hellisheidi
The Japanese delegation, led by Minister Nishimura, also visited the Hellisheidi geothermal power plant and met with Sævar Freyr Thráinsson, CEO of Reykjavik Energy, the parent company of ON Power and Carbfix.
Edda Aradóttir, CEO of Carbfix presented Carbfix‘s technology of CO2 mineralization and it‘s global scaling potential, followed by a presentation from Christoph Gebald, CEO of Climeworks. The guests of honor furthermore visited one of Carbfix‘s injection wells, where CO2 is being injected into the ground for permanent mineralization.
CBO of Carbfix Kristinn Ingi Lárusson stated that “As we look to address the challenges of climate change, we must explore every opportunity to reduce our carbon footprint. The potential of Carbfix in Japan is promising.” Japan has great potential for the deployment of the Carbfix technology due to its position on the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is highly volcanically active and has abundant potentially favorable rock formations for mineral storage of CO2.
Source: METI
