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 the Oyasu region, three companies - INPEX, INPEX CORPORATION Geothermal Development Co., Ltd., and TEPCO Renewable Power Inc. - are constructing a geothermal power plant with a capacity of 14,990 kW. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2022, with operations 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.
Valuing dialogue with local residents
In 2012, the Yuzawa City Oyasu Area Geothermal Resources Utilization Council was launched, with Yuzawa City in Akita Prefecture as the secretariat, and Oyasu Geothermal Co., Ltd., local hot spring inns, nature conservation groups, and resident representatives exchanging opinions and building consensus. Since then, once or twice a year, there have been opportunities to report on monitoring results to see if there are any changes in the hot spring water, various investigation results including fumarolic tests, and to explain the business plan for the following year.
When developing geothermal energy in a natural park, it is important to advance dialogue with local people through councils, etc. Oyasu Geothermal Corporation places great importance on providing detailed explanations to each individual, and aims to build consensus in close contact with the local community as it moves the project forward.