Mitsui Fudosan will enter Japan's first next-generation geothermal power generation business. The method uses water sent from the surface, heated by underground heat, to generate electricity and may expand the areas suitable for development compared with conventional systems.
Mitsui Fudosan has announced plans to enter the next-generation geothermal power generation business. It aims to be the first in Japan to commercialize a method that uses water circulated from the surface, rather than underground hot water, and heats it with underground heat for power generation.
Known as a closed-loop system, the method circulates water through pipes installed deep underground and uses underground heat to generate electricity. It is expected to be less dependent on the availability of underground hot water.
Suitable sites are expected to expand compared with conventional geothermal power generation. Japan ranks third globally in geothermal resources, and if the number of locations suitable for installation increases, this may help secure energy security.