Initiatives for new development
Snail Mountain Power Plant (Oyasu area, Akita Prefecture)
In 2011, we began investigating geothermal Resources in the Oyasu region located in the southeastern part of Akita Prefecture, and in 2018 we established Oyasu Geothermal Co., Ltd. as a joint venture company.
We are aiming to realize new geothermal power generation at the foot of Mt Snail in Yuzawa, the "geothermal town''.
In this Oyasu area, three companies, our company, INPEX Geothermal Development Co., Ltd., and TEPCO Renewable Power Co., Ltd., are proceeding with the construction of a geothermal power plant with an output of 14,990kW. Construction work is scheduled to begin in 2022, with operation scheduled to begin in 2027.
Additionally, in March 2023, the power plant was designated as an important power development site * by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, the first geothermal power plant to do so. We will continue to further advance our efforts to coexist with the local community.
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Designation as an important power source development site: Designation by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry for sites related to power source development that is particularly important for the national government to promote, with the aim of building consensus with local communities and facilitating approvals and approvals at related ministries and agencies. thing
Long road to start operation
Geothermal power generation requires a very long research period. Regarding geothermal power generation in the Oyasu area, it took 16 years from the start of the survey to the scheduled start of operation. When thinking about business, it is a long project.
Geothermal development requires time for underground investigation (digging wells and considering whether stable operation is possible). In addition, additional time was required, especially in the Oyasu area, where heavy snowfall made it impossible to carry out surveys and construction work in the winter, and because this was the first case in a natural park after deregulation.
Cherishing dialogue with local residents
In 2012, Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture became the secretariat, and the Yuzawa City Oyasu Regional Geothermal Resources Utilization Council was started, with Oyasu Geothermal Co., local hot spring inns, nature conservation groups, and resident representatives exchanging opinions and building consensus. Did. Since then, we have provided opportunities once or twice a year to report on the results of monitoring to see if there have been any changes in the hot spring water, to explain the results of various investigations including fumarole tests, and to explain the details of the next year's project.
When conducting geothermal development within a natural park, it is important to engage in dialogue with local residents through councils and other means. Oyasu Geothermal Co., Ltd. values the attitude of providing detailed explanations to each individual, and moves forward with projects with the aim of building consensus that is closely tied to the local community.