J-POWER and Nittetsu Mining collaborate for geothermal energy development

They will first explore opportunities in Kagoshima.

Electric Power Development Co., Ltd. (J-POWER) has formed a new company with Nittetsu Mining Co., Ltd. to look into geothermal energy development in the Shiramizugoe area of Kirishima City, Kagoshima Prefecture.

The new entity will be called Shiramizugoe Geothermal Co., Ltd., with 51% ownership by Nittetsu Mining and 49% by J-POWER. It will have an initial investment of $139,188.53. (JPY20m).

Under this collaboration, the companies will conduct joint surveys and feasibility studies in the area for a geothermal power generation project with an estimated output of approximately 15,000 kilowatts.

Nittetsu Mining has been conducting investigations in the said area. It has acquired survey wells from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization and has been conducting resource assessments for geothermal power generation.

Previous surveys have confirmed the presence of acidic hydrothermal fluid2 in the geothermal reservoir beneath Shiramizugoe.

J-POWER has been engaged in geothermal power generation since 1975, which includes the Onikobe Geothermal Power Station that utilises acidic hydrothermal fluid.