Development of a Small and Low-Temperature Geothermal Power Generation System and Its Marketability in Asia

Abstract

Innovation of a smaller-scale geothermal power generation system will expand the geothermal power market to rural areas where each electricity demand is relatively limited. Innovation of a lower-temperature geothermal power generation system will directly enlarge the geothermal power market because abundance of hydrothermal resource dramatically increases with decreasing resource temperature. For the dual purposes, a development project of a 50 kW class Kalina cycle geothermal power generation system is conducted. Key subjects for the project are down sizing of the hardware with keeping its original energy conversion efficiency and protection of the heat exchanger from mineral precipitates. If this system will be completed, not only a business model of hot spring power generation will be realized in Japan, but also the geothermal power market will be widely expanded to Asia-Pacific regions including non-volcanic fields and remote volcanic islands.