On February 18, Baseload Power Japan's Business Development Manager, 工藤恵史(Yoshifumi Kudo), delivered a keynote titled “Carbon Neutrality and Geothermal Energy” hosted by the non-profit organization “Spatto Naruko Onsen Natural Energy”(スパっと鳴子温泉自然エネルギー, President: Keiji Sasaki) at the Naruko Community Center in Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture.
Naruko boasts significant geothermal potential, characterized by a source composition conducive to binary power generation. This method allows for the development of power plants not only through new drilling but also by repurposing existing hot spring wells. In this speech, under the theme of “Potential of Binary Power Generation Using Existing Springs,” Baseload Power Japan presented an overview of the company, addressed pertinent societal issues such as population decline, aging demographics, and rural depopulation, and outlined the potential social, economic, and environmental benefits stemming from geothermal energy deployment. The presentation featured concrete examples of geothermal development initiatives.
In the pursuit of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, renewable energy assumes paramount importance. Geothermal energy, characterized by its near-zero CO2 emissions and sustainable power generation capabilities, emerges as a critical component in this endeavor. While acknowledging challenges such as regulatory frameworks, cost considerations, and community engagement, Baseload Power Japan reaffirmed its commitment to fostering deeper understanding among local stakeholders and working towards a future where resilient societies thrive on renewable energy sources.
*The non-profit organization “Spatto Naruko Onsen Natural Energy” was established in 2014 with the aim of revitalizing the local community by utilizing local natural energy based on the idea that local production for local consumption is important to secure stable energy supply. Since then, Professor Muramatsu-san, Deputy Director of Tohoku University, and his team have been regularly conducting on-site classes consisting of classroom lectures, experiments, and extracurricular learning on the theme of “carbon neutrality and renewable energy.” Shared with the vision, Baseload Power Japan has been supporting these activities since 2022.