Japanese firms are planning to kick-off new projects to build geothermal power plants in 2009 for the first time in nearly 2 decades. Mitsubishi Materials Corp., Electric Power Development Co., Nittetsu Mining Co. Ltd and Kyushu Electric Power Co. will lead the way, and the government plans to step up support for geothermal power station development. Nikkei said that with active volcanoes scattered around the country, Japan is well placed to tap geothermal energy as a power source and the attraction of a domestic source of energy is also fuelling the drive. Another reason for the renewed interest may be that geothermal power plants emit far less carbon dioxide than their fossil fuel and nuclear counterparts. It added that Mitsubishi Materials and J Power plan to invest roughly JPY 40 billion and construct a geothermal power plant in Yuzawa in Akita Prefecture. By tapping hot water and steam around 2000m below the surface, this facility is expected to generate up to 60,000kW of power and is scheduled to begin operating as early as 2016.
