On the Geothermal Energy Development in Japan and the Role of JOGMEC

Abstract

After the terrible disaster happened in March, 2011, demand for the stable energy supply including geothermal energy has been increasing. The Japanese government made revisions of the JOGMEC law, which integrate the development and the promotion of energies, resulting that JOGMEC has added a new function which includes not only financial supports but researches and developments of geothermal energy. Three projects concerned with the geothermal technology development are being conducted, which includes an airborne gravity survey by a gradiometer installed in the helicopter to find out a new geothermal area, a new exploration method using the transient electromagnetic method, and a management technology to maintain the production pressure in a depleted reservoir. Financial supports of grant, investment, and debt guarantee are also included in the new function in JOGMEC. The developer applies the JOGMEC’s grant at first. The grant supports the survey on the surface and the drilling of the investigation wells. In 2013, twenty developers were able to use the grant.