Our mission

Our mission is simple: we develop and operate sustainable power plants together with local communities.

What is renewable energy?

Most people know that deep under Earth’s surface is a molten layer of hot rock. But what many do not know is that this heat could provide us with a long-lasting source of renewable energy.

Renewable energy is energy from resources that restore themselves over time, and do not diminish. Solar energy and wind power, as well as hydropower from moving water, are the most well-known forms of renewable energy. But Earth's heat is actually a potentially greater resource than any of these.

Unlike wind or solar power, which only work when the wind is blowing or when the sun is out, our geothermal power plants can provide power around the clock. Unlike coal-powered plants, they do not pollute the air with greenhouse gas emissions. And unlike nuclear power plants, they are resilient in the face of disasters. They will be able to provide local communities with a source of renewable energy for a long time to come.

What is binary heat power?

Geothermal energy has historically been difficult to harness and convert into electricity unless it was extremely hot. At Baseload Power Japan, our binary cycle power plants work by converting lower temperatures of hot water into electricity.

Geothermal power generation is roughly categorized into two methods.

Flash: A method of generating electricity by turning a turbine by the force of high-temperature steam coming out of the ground. It has been commonly used in geothermal power generation in Japan. It is suitable for geothermal power plants with high output, but since it requires high temperatures and large amounts of heat resources, careful development is required, and a long period of time is required before operation begins.

Binary: When the temperature of steam and hot water from the ground is low, a binary method is used to evaporate a medium with a lower boiling point than water and turn the turbine. The binary method can be developed by new drilling, and the construction of power plants can also be done using existing hot spring wells. In addition, hot water after gas separation in the process of flash power generation can be used secondary to generate power (bottoming cycle power generation).

How we work

The first step in our business process involves identifying existing heat sources. This might involve finding and drilling a new geothermal well, in locations where there is a well-documented hot water source. Or it might mean working to revitalize an old well, or using the lower-temperature heat at a high-temperature geothermal plant.

Working closely with local communities and power companies, we lease or purchase the site, obtain permits, and establish power agreements. A team of geologists and drilling operators then works to establish a flow of hot water that we can convert heat into electricity.

In Japan, we currently have two completed power plants, and several more under development. We are fast on our way to disrupting the energy sector, working as hard as we can to unleash the planet’s largest renewable energy source and bring about our vision of a planet in balance.

LOCALLY: OUR PORTFOLIO COMPANIES

PROJECT SOURCING

Our power companies evaluate geological conditions, map plant locations and check grid capacity, and establish relationships with key stakeholders.

EVALUATION & QUALIFICATION

For final confirmation, the power companies run water samples, gravity surveys, more. Then they sign the land-lease and off-take agreements, and obtain local permits.

EXECUTION

Local teams manage the actual project development, in parallel with permitting, site preparation, technology procurement, etc.

GLOBALLY: BASELOAD CAPITAL

FINANCING

By offering early-stage capital, equity and/or debt, we can accelerate the development of heat power projects and ensure meaningful returns.

MARKET RESEARCH

We do extensive research to identify potential new markets, then we investigate and help secure land-lease and power-purchase agreements.

TECHNOLOGY KNOWLEDGE

We are experts in the technology required to deploy heat power plants, and know what it takes to maximize uptime.

Baseload Power Japan is supported by long-term investors

Although geothermal power generation can contribute to decarbonization, the ratio of geothermal power generation to renewable energy is only 0.2%*, and the business development of geothermal power generation involves risks in cost, efficiency, time, know-how, etc. in exploration, construction, and operation. This has made fundraising difficult.

Investors in Europe and the United States, where ESG are focused, agree with our efforts to decarbonize through geothermal energy and support the baseload group's technology and business development from a long-term perspective.

Based on funds from investors and the know-how of the Group, Baseload Power Japan aims to contribute to decarbonization by utilizing the heat of the earth, and to revitalize local communities with the local resources.

THE ECOSYSTEM

PLANTS THAT DO MORE THAN PRODUCE POWER.

Introducing the heat power ecosystem: it generates electricity and is a source of district heating. It keeps fish happy, and greenhouses temperate. Minerals like lithium and silica can be filtered from the hot water at heat power plants and sold at a profit. In the future, our plants might also be combined with solar and energy storage solutions. New technologies are making other applications feasible, and a new, integrated approach is transforming the way we build power plants. Explore the growing heat power system below.

HOW MUCH ELECTRICITY IS THAT?

A single 1MW power plant can produce enough electricity to power between 600 and 800 homes.

800

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