Japan:

Fukushima Spa Hopes for Recovery with Geothermal Heat (Power Engineering)

(Courtesy The Tsuchiyu-Onsen Tourist Association)

Members pin high hopes on a geothermal power-generation system that uses heat from hot springs. The heat will be used to boil ammonia, which has a low boiling point, to drive turbine generators. The project has won a subsidy from the Environment Ministry.

The new system, which can utilize excess hot spring water, is considered to be more environment-friendly than existing geothermal power generation systems. These require large-scale plants to generate electricity from high-temperature gases from deep in the ground.

The group aims for the generation of 500 kilowatts per hour by the end of March 2014. It also plans to build small-scale hydropower generation facilities that use local river water.

The combined target is 1,100 kilowatts per hour, covering all of the electricity used in the area.

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