Monday, August 31, 2015

Japan: 5 MW Sugawara Binary Cycle Power Plant Completed

Kyushu utility to double geothermal power generation by 2030 (The Asahi Shimbun)

The Sugawara Binary Cycle Power Station, which generates
geothermal power in the town of Kokonoe, Oita Prefecture,
on Aug. 5 (Junichiro Nagasaki)
Because it is volcanically active, the island of Kyushu is ideally suited to geothermal power generation. That prompted Kyushu Electric Power Co. to announce an ambitious plan on Aug. 5 to double its geothermal output by 2030.

Even though geothermal power accounts for a miniscule share of overall electricity demand, the regional utility said it plans to gradually add more power stations in years to come. One bonus is that geothermal generation offers a more stable electricity supply source compared with solar or wind power.

Kyushu Electric held a completion ceremony on Aug. 5 at the Sugawara Binary Cycle Power Station, a geothermal power generation facility in the town of Kokonoe in Oita Prefecture. With an output of 5 MW, it will produce approximately 30 million kilowatt hours a year, or enough to power 8,000 typical homes.