Japan Aims to Boost Geothermal Power Generation

Tokyo, May 14 (Jiji Press)--Japan aims to increase its generation
of geothermal power in 2030 by about 3.5-fold from the current level, it was
learned Wednesday.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry included the goal in
its thermal power generation development program, which will be reported to
a study panel on Thursday, informed sources told Jiji Press.
The program calls for utilizing hydrothermal resources from
existing hot springs and geothermal resources from national parks, the
sources said.
In 2009, Japan's geothermal power output totaled about 530,000
kilowatts, utilizing only 2 pct of the country's total geothermal resources.
The program calls for increasing output to between 1.88 million and
1.9 million kilowatts in 2030.
The ministry plans to call for allowing utility firms to count
thermal power generation in their mandated use of new energy under
government regulations, the sources said.