Australian Rare Earths

Australian Alternative Energy Forum


Not Really a Forum, more of my memory aid.


Comments on this forum should never be taken as investment advice.


Go Back   Alternative Energy Forums > Alternative Energy Discussion > Geothermal

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 07-09-2023, 11:00 PM
Sparty Sparty is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,028
Default Japan's Devils Energy

Summary: Japan sits on top of a huge reserve of clean, cheap power. Some call it 'devil energy'

Japan is a resource-poor nation that relies heavily on imported fossil fuels for its energy needs. However, the country also has abundant geothermal resources that could be used to generate electricity. However, the development of geothermal energy in Japan has been complicated by the country's tradition of onsen, or hot springs. Onsen are a popular tourist attraction in Japan, and many people believe that they have health benefits. As a result, there is a great deal of opposition to the development of geothermal plants in areas where onsen are located.

The town of Kusatsu in central Japan is a prime example of this conflict. Kusatsu is famous for its Yubatake, or "hot water field," where thousands of liters of naturally occurring hot water flow through the village center every minute. Onsen is the lifeblood of the town, attracting some 3 million visitors a year. Just over a decade ago, the town successfully blocked the development of a geothermal plant in a neighboring town.

The Japanese government has set a modest target of 1% of the nation's electricity to come from geothermal by 2030. However, it is unclear whether this target will be met, given the opposition to geothermal development from onsen communities.

In addition to the opposition from onsen communities, there are other challenges to the development of geothermal energy in Japan. These include the high cost of drilling and the risk of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Despite these challenges, there is still potential for geothermal energy to play a significant role in Japan's energy mix. The country has some of the most active geothermal areas in the world, and the technology for harnessing this energy is becoming increasingly efficient. If Japan can overcome the challenges to geothermal development, it could help to reduce the country's reliance on imported fossil fuels and improve its energy security.

 

Disclaimer: The author of this post, may or may not be a shareholder of any of the companies mentioned in this column. No company mentioned has sponsored or paid for this content.
The information on this site is for information purposes only. Alternative-Energy.com.au is neither responsible nor liable for the accuracy of this data.

Comments on this forum should never be taken as investment advice.

Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 09:14 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.