Agency for Natural Resources and Energy/Public-Private Council for Promoting Next-Generation Geothermal Energy Meets for the First Time, Roadmap to be Formulated in October
April 15, 2025
On the 14th, the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy held the first meeting of the public-private council to promote the development and social deployment of next-generation geothermal technology (photo). A roadmap outlining research, development, and demonstration plans and goals will be drawn up around October, with the goal of commercializing technologies utilizing deep supercritical geothermal energy in the early 2030s. The council is composed of energy-related companies, manufacturers, financial institutions, and government agencies. Large and medium-sized construction contractors also participated.
The Public-Private Council for Promoting Next-Generation Geothermal Energy held a meeting. The host will be Yasuhiro Fujimitsu, a professor at the Graduate School of Kyushu University. After determining the technological development issues and development factors, the development and demonstration schedule, specific goals and plans will be established. A summary of the implementation image will also be provided. The five main contractors are the Obayashi Corporation, Kajima Corporation, Kumagai Gumi, Taisei Corporation and Nishimatsu Construction Company.
Geothermal energy will account for only 0.3% of electricity production in fiscal 2010. The government's seventh basic energy plan, which outlines energy policy through fiscal 2040, expects geothermal power production to account for about four times the current figure, at 1-2%.
Supercritical geothermal energy uses high-temperature and high-pressure hot water underground. The government plans to promote the development of conventional geothermal energy in areas such as natural parks, as well as establish a system to encourage the demonstration of some next-generation geothermal technologies. Next-generation geothermal energy includes the creation of artificial reservoirs, drilling of geothermal layers, and fluid circulation. It also involves the use of hot water from above magma and the creation of reservoirs in hot dry rocks and heat recovery.
At the first meeting of the council, Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Shinji Takeuchi said, "Geothermal energy is extremely important as a pure domestic energy source and a carbon-free energy source. Social deployment projects are progressing (around the world). We should take advantage of Japan's technological capabilities to lead the market," and called for cooperation in promoting technological development and social deployment.
