J-Power, partners switch on 15-MW geothermal plant in Japan

Japanese utility Electric Power Development Co Ltd (TYO:9513), also known as J-Power, announced today the start of commercial operations at a 14.9-MW geothermal power plant in Japan’s Iwate prefecture.

The Appi Geothermal Power Plant, as it is named, was built in Hachimantai city by a partnership between J-Power, Mitsubishi Materials Corporation (TYO:5711) and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company Inc (TYO:4182).

Construction work on this project began in August 2019. Its output will be supplied to the local society under the Japanese Feed-In Tariff (FIT) system for renewable energy.

Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security provided a debt guarantee project for geothermal resource development funding.

Appi Geothermal is the second power plant of its kind to be jointly operated by the trio, following the 46-MW Wasabizawa Geothermal Power Plant in Akita prefecture.

J-Power noted that this is the first time a geothermal power plant with a capacity above 10 MW has been built and operated in Iwate prefecture over the past 28 years.

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