The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry has established a liaison council of both the public and private sectors to accelerate the development of technologies for a next-generation geothermal power system.
Japan has numerous volcanoes and thus abundant geothermal heat. Therefore, there are high expectations for this promising source of renewable energy. The government plans to encourage private-sector companies to invest more in the field, with the aim of a new system being put into practical use in the early 2030s.
More than 70 companies, including ones in the fields of electric power, construction and finance, attended the first meeting of the liaison council on April 14.
Together, the members of the council aim to create a road map by the end of this year for the commercialization of next-generation technologies including closed-loop systems, which have been attracting attention worldwide.
The government is also considering measures to assist companies in fostering human resources and lowering costs.
