HEPCO, Obayashi commence geothermal exploration in Rusutsu, Japan
Rusutsu, Abuta District, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan (source: ???, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Carlo Cariaga
3 Apr 2024
HEPCO and Obayashi Corporation have started exploration to assess the viability of geothermal power generation in Rusutsu Village in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan.
The Hokkaido Electric Power Company (HEPCO) with Obayashi Corporation have announced the start of an exploration campaign for geothermal power generation in the village of Rusutsu in Hokkaido, Japan near the southern foot of Mt. Shiribetsu. The planned exploration phase will be from April 2024 to February 2025 and may involve the drilling of an exploration well to a depth of 2000 meters.
Based on the results of exploration, a decision will be made on whether the site will be developed for commercial exploitation.
The partnership of HEPCO and Obayashi, with Idemitsu Kosan, is currently also evaluating the feasibility of geothermal power generation in Kyogoku Town, also in Hokkaido.
HEPCO is part of a joint venture that has built and operates the 25-MW Mori geothermal power plant and the 2-MW Mori binary power plant in Mori-Machi. The binary power plant, which started commercial operations in November 2023, utilizes the residual heat from the older Mori geothermal power plant
Source: HEPCO
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