Tohoku, Mitsubishi eye deep geothermal tech for Japan
Aerial view of a drilling rig from Nabors Industries where Quaise Energy is installing millimeter wave capabilities. Work at Nevada Gold Mines will require a similar setup to develop deep geothermal energy onsite (source: Quaise Energy)
Alexander Richter
5 Jun 2025
Tohoku Electric and Mitsubishi have partnered with Quaise Energy to explore deep geothermal drilling technology for zero-carbon energy development in Japan.
Tohoku Electric Power and Mitsubishi Corporation are partnering with U.S.-based Quaise Energy to explore the use of deep geothermal drilling technology in Japan, aiming to tap into ultra-deep geothermal resources as part of the country’s long-term decarbonization strategy.
The collaboration is backed by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) under a multi-phase innovation program aimed at expanding domestic geothermal development. The project will assess the feasibility of Quaise’s gyrotron-based drilling technology, which uses high-frequency millimeter-wave energy to vaporize rock, enabling access to geothermal heat at depths of up to 10 km.
Japan, with its high geothermal potential and deep drilling challenges, is seen as a key market for this emerging technology. Tohoku Electric aims to apply Quaise’s method to reach high-temperature heat zones previously considered inaccessible with conventional drilling methods.
Mitsubishi Corporation, which recently invested in Quaise, will support commercialization efforts in Japan. The collaboration seeks to validate the technology’s applicability to Japan’s complex geology and integrate it into future power generation or heat supply infrastructure.
The initiative aligns with Japan’s goal to increase geothermal utilization and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, especially in industrial and remote regions.
Sources: Nikkei, NEDO, cn.Nikkei
