Research and Development of Supercritical Geothermal Resources

The Long-term Energy Supply and Demand Outlook—which was formulated in response to the Strategic Energy Plan released by the Cabinet in FY2014—indicates that geothermal power expected to be introduced by 2030 totals up to 1.55 million kW of installed capacity and 11.3 billion kWh of power generated.

In addition, the Innovative Strategy for Energy and the Environment, which was formulated by the Cabinet Office in FY2016, identifies supercritical geothermal power generation technology as a concrete example of next-generation power generation technology—positioned as a promising innovative technology expected to have a major potential impact on the reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions—and includes a roadmap aimed at the popularization of such technology by around 2050.

Based on the Supercritical Geothermal Power Generation Feasibility Study (FY 2017), which was the first step undertaken under the above roadmap, the goal of this project is to continue researching issues identified in the study and develop technologies for the drilling of exploration wells.

• (1) Evaluate supercritical geothermal resources and design detailed specifications for exploration wells
• (2) Develop materials for exploration wells (e.g., casing and cement materials)
• (3) Develop modeling technology methods for supercritical geothermal reservoirs

• 
  Overview of result applications
• 
  Roadmap to popularization