Development and Utilization of Geothermal Energy in Japan

Abstract

Japan, well known as one of the most volcanic and rich hot spring countries, has about 10% of all active volcanoes in the world. In 1966, Azuma Kako Co., Ltd. (present Japan Metals and Chemicals Co., Ltd.) constructed Japan's first geothermal power plant of 20MW. Since 1966, several geothermal power plants have been constructed in Kyushu and Northwest Japan. At present there exist six power plants amounting to 162MW in total. One more power plant is now under construction in Hokkaido, expected to begin operation in fall 1982. All six geothermal power plants are located in national parks. Two of them are expected to be doubled in near future. Now the developer, amounting to about ten, are implementing their surveys mainly outside the parks, and it is forecast that in 1985 300MW an din 1990 1,400MW power will be obtained by geothermal energy.