The origin of Geothermal power (In Japan)
Geothermal power made its appearance in Japan in April 1919, when Mr. Masuji YAMAUCHI, concerned by Japan’s dependency on fossil fuel, started his research on how geothermal energy can be harness to become the new main source of power for Japan. His research proved fruitful in the city of Beppu, Oita prefecture, where he successfully drilled Japan’s first geothermal well (Capacity: 1.12kW).
November 1925, Japan’s first successful geothermal power generation test (Capacity: 1.12kW).
Dr. Heizi TACHIKAWA, after Yamauchi, achieved geothermal power generation as first time in Japan (capacity: 1.12kW)
There was no further noteworthy development until after WWII.
Taken from the study of geothermal power generation by Tachikawa Heiji
(Published in 1930: Japan Power Association)
Geothermal power plant’s turbine and transformer.
Taken 12.28.1925
After the war, providing sufficient electricity for restoration efforts is among the top priority for Japan, who, along with various plan to develop 2 main sources of power that are hydro and fossil fuels, also invested in research on geothermal energy.
January 1947 Geological Survey of Japan began geothermal resource exploration for the selection of fields to be exploited.
1949 Kyushu Electric Power Company began geothermal survey in Oita and study on power generation.
October 1966 The first geothermal power plant in Japan put into commercial use (capacity 9500 kW)
JMC began operation of Matsukawa power plant as the first geothermal power plant in Japan (capacity 9500 kW)
Matsukawa power plant
Steam powered power plant (Dry steam)
Operation start: Oct 8th 1966
Capacity 9500 kW (Current capacity: about 23500kW)
Currently owned by Touhoku Hydro-Geothermal Company
Hachimantai, Iwate Prefecture
August 1967 The first Flash steam geothermal power station in Japan to start operation (Capacity: 11000 kW)
Kyushu Electric Power Company began operation of Odake power plant, the first Japanese Flash steam geothermal power plant with a water-steam separator and a capacity of 11,000 kW.
Odake power plant Source: Kyushu Electrics Company
Flash steam plants take high-pressure hot water
Operation start: Aug 11th 1967
Capacity 11000 kW (Current capacity: about 12500kW)
Currently owned by Kyushu Electrics
Oita Prefecture
October 1973 Laws on natural parks and natural environmental protection were partly modified. The 1st oil shock occurred.
July 1974 MITI initiated the Sunshine Project (for promotion of new energy)
1974 The Sunshine Project started
1976 Japan Geothermal Resource Development and Promotion Center (current New Energy Foundation) was settled.
September 1977 Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, MITI, began Basic Survey on Geothermal Development.
1978 Geothermal Research Society of Japan (GRSJ) was settled. The 2nd oil shock occurred.
1970 To overcome the second oil shock, a new initiative called the ‘Sunshine project’ which are polices to find alternative to fossil fuels. This lead to the expansion of the geothermal energy industry in Japan.
Power plants built one after another in the Touhoku and Kyushu regions, and by 1996, 500,000kW capacity of geothermal plants were built. During this time, Japan became one of the leading nations in geothermal generation technology.
Annual change in authorized output and generated electric energy
Source: Thermal Nuclear Power Technology Association
Recent situation and trends of geothermal power generation 2010. 2011 version, (2012)
! The state of geothermal power generation
From 2001, Touhoku and Kyushu became the focus of geothermal power development
20 power plants were set to be built in 18 regions (Capacity 53.25 MW), each operating differently.
June 1977 The first generation unit of the largest geothermal power plant in Japan went into operation (Capacity: 55000 kW)
Kyushu Electric Company started construction of a double flash type geothermal power plant with a power generation output of 55000 kW in Hatchobaru, Kuju, Oita prefecture. In 1990, the second unit began operation, adding up to the plant’s total capacity of 110,000 kW, making it the largest geothermal power station in Japan. Monitoring and operation of the power plant is remotely controlled from Ogake Power Station located 2 km away.
Hatchobaru Powerplant Source: Kyushu Electric Company
May 1980 Law on promotion of development and installation of non-oil energy resources came into effect.
September 1980 New Energy Foundation was settled. MITI settled aid for drilling of geothermal exploration wells.
October 1980 New Energy (and Industrial Technology) Development Organization was settled. NEDO initiated Geothermal Development Promotion Survey.。
1980 New Energy (and Industrial Technology) Development Organization was settled. NEDO initiated Geothermal Development Promotion Survey.
1985 MITI settled aid for development of geothermal power generation.
1996 Total capacity of Japanese geothermal power plants reached to 500MW.
2000 Law on Energy liberalisation was passed
2003 RPS Law was passed
2005 Kyoto Protocol was put in effect
April 2006 Japan’s first Binary cycle power plant Hachoubaru (capacity 2000kW) started its operation
June 2015, Japan's largest binary geothermal power station started operation (Capacity 5000 kW)
Kyushu Mirai Energy Co., Ltd. starts operation of Japan's largest (5000 kW) binary power plant in Kokonoe-cho
Source: Kyushu Mirai Energy Corporation
2012 Feed in Tariff system was introduced. Due to this policy, the so called Megasolar phenomenon, where private solar power generation facilities being built all over Japan, took place.
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