Japan could see a new geothermal power plant in Iwate Prefecture by 2015
Close to Hachimantai, Iwate Prefecture, Japan (source: flickr/ By jasohill, creative commons)
Alexander Richter
15 Jul 2011
A new geothermal power plant close to Hachimantai in Iwate Prefecture could open as early as 2015, following the signing of an agreement between the city and the companies of JFE Engineering Corp., Japan Metals & Chemicals Co., and Geothermal Engineering Co.
“Iwate Prefecture will soon be home to a geothermal power plant, scheduled to open in 2015 — a move that could signal a growing role for geothermal energy in Japan.”, so recent news from Japan.
“The plant is to be constructed on the site of a former ski resort on the outskirts of the city of Hachimantai. An agreement was signed between the city and three companies — JFE Engineering Corp., Japan Metals & Chemicals Co., and Geothermal Engineering Co. — to build the plant. Since 2009, the companies have surveyed the area for underground resources useable for power generation, such as steam and hot water. They have confirmed as much as 50,000 kilowatts’ worth of resources and will first build a facility capable of producing 7,000 kilowatts.
If the plant begins operations on schedule, it will be the first new geothermal plant in Japan in 16 years, since the Tokyo Electric Power Co. built one on the island of Hachijo.
Geothermal energy is not widespread in Japan, partly due to opposition from the hot springs industry, which fears that geothermal plants will cause underground springs to dry up. In the case of the Hachimantai plant, however, the nearby hot spring facilities are already closed. The planned location also falls outside of the borders of the nearby Towada-Hachimantai national park.
As a renewable energy source, geothermal power has attracted the attention of other companies as well. Major oil firms Idemitsu Kosan Co. and Inpex Corp. began geothermal surveys in Hokkaido and Akita prefectures in June.
Still, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the only geothermal plants that have been announced so far are the Hachimantai plant and one other in Yuzawa, Akita Prefecture, financed by Mitsubishi Materials Corp. and others. In the case of the Yuzawa plant, an environmental assessment will take time, and operations are not expected to start earlier than 2020.”
Source: The Mainichi Daily News
