Japan’s Ministry of the Environment estimates 9,800 MW developable potential
Matsukawa Geothermal Power Plant, Iwate, Japan
Alexander Richter
24 Tem 2011
While its 18 geothermal power plants currently only provide about 0.24% of Japan's electricity, the Ministry of the Environment sees a developable potential of 9,800 MW, with a realistic estimate possibility of additional 500 MW by 2020.
“Eighteen geothermal plants generated just 0.24 percent of Japan’s electricity in 2009. Japan has the eighth-highest installed geothermal capacity in the world, with a capacity of 535 MW, and it is the top producer of geothermal turbines.
Potential: Hot-spring-rich Japan, located on the volcanically active Pacific “Ring of Fire,” has 33,600 MW of potential geothermal resources, according to an Environment Ministry study. However, most hotspots are in national parks, where regulations rule out development. Even so, the study estimates that 9,800 MW could be developed, and the ministry recently announced it may loosen restrictions to open up more sites.
Considering economic considerations and the 10-year time lag to build a new plant, however, Isao Matsunaga, president of the Geothermal Research Society of Japan, said that just 500 MW could realistically be running by 2020. That’s the equivalent of half the capacity of one nuclear reactor.”
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Source: Japan Times
