A Pioneer of Renewable Energy
Matsukawa Geothermal Powerplant
In the early 1950s, in an effort to revitalize the Matsukawa community, municipal leaders and innkeepers were looking for ways to enhance the area's appeal as a hot spring resort. They invited a geological survey team from the nearby Matsuo Mine to conduct test drilling to find new hot springs to support the expansion of lodging facilities in the town.
However, each time they drilled, what gushed out was not hot water but vigorous steam. 3 large steam geysers were discovered in 3 years, and the cost of investigation continued to mount. After a series of unsuccessful attempts, the seventh drilling in 1956 finally yielded enough hot spring water to open a new, medium-sized hot spring inn that could accommodate up to 40 people. The inn used geothermal steam for heating and kerosene and gas for lighting.
In the summer of the same year, Hachimantai was designated as a national park, and the owner of the ryokan decided to install electric lighting. As a means to achieve this, they came up with the idea of using steam to generate electricity. This idea marked the beginning of geothermal energy production in Matsukawa.
Matsukawa’s Steady Performance
After 10 years of research and state-of-the-art construction, the Matsukawa geothermal power plant began operation with an initial capacity of 9,500 kilowatts. Since then, with the addition of new production wells and the installation of a state-of-the-art turbine in 1993, the generating capacity has increased by 147%, reaching 23,500 kilowatts as of 2019. Today, geothermal steam from 10 wells provides clean and stable electricity to facilities and residents in the Hachimantai area.
In addition, hydrogen sulfide and other chemicals removed from the steam during the power generation process are recycled. This produces hot water, which is used for cooking in local hot spring facilities and for heating the greenhouses of an agricultural cooperative. In this way, the Matsukawa geothermal power plant works closely with the local community to promote sustainable energy use.
In 2016, the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers recognized the plant as a "Mechanical Heritage" in recognition of its role as a pioneer in geothermal power generation in Japan. This award symbolizes the historical and technological value of the Matsukawa Geothermal Power Plant.
Matsukawa Geothermal Power Plant: A Half-Century History
1966 Launched operations at 9,500 kW capacity
1968 Increased capacity to 20,000 kW
1973 Increased capacity to 22,000 kW
1993 Updated turbine; increased capacity to 23,600 kW
1994 Opened the Matsukawa Geothermal Hall
2005 Launched remote surveillance from Shizukuishi-cho
2016 Named a “Mechanical Engineering Heritage” site by the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers
Marked 50 years of operation
How Hydrothermal Energy Works
As the name suggests, geothermal power generation uses "geothermal heat" and "water" to generate electricity. The volcanic zone of Hachimantai is rich in these elements, providing an ideal environment for the use of geothermal energy. (As of November 2019, seven geothermal power plants were in operation in the Tohoku region, accounting for about 50% of Japan's total geothermal power output.)
As magma rises near the surface, it heats water trapped in underground faults, fracture zones, and porous rock. Wells are drilled to access these geothermal reservoirs, and the resulting steam and hot water is piped to turn turbines to produce electricity.
Features of the Matsukawa Geothermal Power Plant
The Matsukawa geothermal power plant is unique in that it is the only one in Japan that uses the "dry steam method. In this method, high-temperature steam extracted directly from underground is fed into a turbine to drive the generator. The dry steam system is unique in the following respects
- Simplicity of process:Steam is used as it is, so the process of converting hot water to steam is unnecessary.
- Efficiency:Low energy loss due to direct steam utilization.
Differences from other geothermal power generation methods
- flash cycle
High-temperature hot water extracted from underground is depressurized to generate steam, which turns a turbine. - binary cycle
A method that uses hot water of medium temperature to turn a turbine by evaporating another liquid with a lower boiling point.
(e.g., using ammonia, etc.)
historical background
