25 Nuclear Power Plants Could Be Replaced By Geothermal In Japan
Dec 22, 2012 - Jake Richardson - cleantechnica.com
Stefan Larus Stefansson, Icelandâ€™s ambassador to Japan, recently gave a lecture in Tokyo about the very high geothermal potential in Japan. He said that if Japan were to invest in fully realizing its geothermal potential, the countryÂ could replace 25 nuclear reactors.
He used his home country as an example of geothermal success because about two-thirds of the countryâ€™s energy comes from this renewable, stable source. Japan has the worldâ€™s third-highest geothermal potential but has not been pursuing its development nearly as much as it could be.
Ironically, it was the nationâ€™s focus on nuclear power that caused this lack of attention for geothermal development. It isnâ€™t as if Japan is missing the technical knowledge required for geothermal installations either. They actually make the turbines Iceland uses for its geothermal plants. As a percentage of total power, developing countries like Kenya and El Salvador have more geothermal power than Japan.
In the colder areas of Japan, where there is also good geothermal potential, residents typically heat their homes with kerosene. In Iceland, heat for
One concern with geothermal has been disruption of natural habitats when the site is located within a national park. A large hot springs in Iceland called the Blue Lagoon, however, has shown it is possible to have many visitors and retain respect for the environment. It has been reported Iceland hasÂ saved about $7.2 billionÂ since 1970 by its use of geothermal power. One of its first geothermal pioneers was a farmer who used it to help run his farm beginning in 1908.
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