Geothermal Energy In Japan Becomes Hot Topic Following Fukushima Nuclear Disaster (VIDEO)

BBC News reports that on the heels of Japan's nuclear disaster, the country is looking into other sources of energy, including geothermal. Geothermal energy uses heat from the earth's core to generate electricity.

Nuclear power was questioned after Japan's earthquake and tsunami this March left the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant crippled, with workers fearing for their health. Many citizens grew angry, including anti-nuclear campaigner Minoru Ito, who told BBC News, "I dont think people here feel safe about having a nuclear plant around. I hope they will close it permanently, and bury it in concrete. It should become a monument to human stupidity."

Now, as Japan considers alternative energy sources, geothermal power has risen in popularity. According to BBC News, hot springs could supply a portion of Japan's power, in part because the energy is generated by fault lines under the country. In the BBC News video report, one resort hotel is a sample experiment, using an electricity generator to test the power of geothermal energy.

According to a Reuters report, Japan could replace all its planned nuclear stations over the next decade with geothermal energy. Kasumi Yasukawa tells BBC News that 10% of electricity in Japan could be sourced by geothermal energy -- right now, just 0.3% of Japan's energy is geothermal.

Not everyone supports geothermal energy. Harnessing the energy is costly, and there are fears over possible earthquake damage. Also, as BBC News points out, the best geothermal resources in Japan are located in the country's prized national parks. But as the country moves further away from nuclear power, they will continue to seek new sources of energy, and hot springs just might be part of the solution.

Comments

[360Chestnut]

03:54 PM on 07/11/2011

For those of you interested in geothermal technology, the same principle can be used today effectively for residential heating and cooling. If you are studying ways to improve your energy efficiency, then you should find out if geothermal is a suitable option for your home. In fact, in the US you can take advantage of numerous financial incentives to help cover your installation costs and afterwards benefit from this clean, reliable and cheap energy source. This video on youtube shows how a geothermal heat pump installed by a friend of mine works: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIqjghyW7e0

[Pandoras Folly]

10:46 AM on 07/12/2011

I know a guy that had one installed and instead of putting it in the ground put it in his lake since that would be a lot cheaper.. Very very small heating and cooling bill.

[360Chestnut]

10:35 AM on 07/13/2011

You are right, using a pond or lake can be a cheaper option but you need the lake or pond near you to be of adequate size. Horizontal systems may also make sense when you have sufficient land available. Otherwise most people opt for vertical systems - I thought this page on energysavers did a good job of comparing the basic options and you might find it interesting: http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/space_heating_cooling/index.cfm/mytopic=12650

[Pandoras Folly]

10:29 AM on 07/11/2011

honey come to bed its late

I can't someones wrong on the internet

[Pandoras Folly]

10:21 AM on 07/11/2011

one of the more interesting options hydro thermal power. basically it uses heat differential between the layers of ocean water to chill and boil a fluid with a very high boiling point. bang its an endless loop of boiling and chilling fluid pushing turbines. just let it go, consistent clean power.
downsides; high initial cost of development and deployment. not sure if the fluids would be "Green" or not. i am sure greenish alternatives could be found.

it would be perfect for japan put them off shore in the deep water and xfer the electricity back.

[aligatorhardt]

09:16 AM on 07/11/2011

Geothermal resources are very underutilized. This is an important clean energy, renewable resource in areas with volcanic activity.

[maslin]

11:44 AM on 07/11/2011

There are links between some geothermal energy techniques and earthquakes. The Japanese probably think they have had enough earthquakes for the moment.

Other techniques may not share this liability, but as this article points out, there are some other land use problems as well.

That said, where safe, economical, and applicable geothermal is a "Why not?" sort of bet in my book. We might as well.

[Genders]

09:56 PM on 07/10/2011

Geothermal can be good for hot spots. But it causes earth quakes. Now Japan, may be the first to experiment with the idea, that these small geothermal earthquakes prevent the giant earthquakes.

What they should focus on is rooftop pv solar, offshore wind and waste bio char bio fuels. They have plenty of energy, plenty of the smarts needed to use it. You watch.

[ShamsT]

01:14 PM on 07/09/2011

"According to a Reuters report, Japan could replace all its planned nuclear stations over the next decade with geothermal energy."

Just a little bit more detail on why that's not likely:

1. Location. You can't just put a geothermal plant anywhere. You need to place geothermal plants where's there's some volcanic activity. Let's say you do have some volcanic activity in your town, you build a geothermal plant there, and you decide to work at that plant. How safe do you think it's going to be working at a plant that's at high risk for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions?

2. Pollution. What comes out of the earth besides heat for a geothermal plant? Answer: Hydrogen sulfide, SO2 and CO2. That's 40% more greenhouse gases than a natural gas plant and almost as much as a coal plant.

3. Highly Expensive to Build. Geothermal plants and their sites are one of the most expensive types of plants to produce electricity. Scientists need to be involved, they have to test for a suitable location for a plant which can take years. Then, after they find the right location for drilling, they need to figure out if that location is going to give enough heat to even power the plant. After all that, there's the cost of the construction and all of the start up costs. A new geothermal plant typically costs billions of dollars to build.

4. Short Lifespan. A geothermal plant usually only runs for no more than 10 years.

[mdinoregon]

05:36 PM on 07/09/2011

And then there is this place in California that says everything you just said is wrong.But don't let the facts get in the way of your promotion of nuclear.It is what they pay you for after all.

[ShamsT]

05:53 PM on 07/09/2011

That place in California along with others around the world proves everything I said is correct.

Too bad you can't see that there are positives and negatives to every form of energy generation.

[Atoms4Peace1]

05:16 PM on 07/10/2011

No one pays anyone for posting here. Get over it.

[aligatorhardt]

09:17 AM on 07/11/2011

Japan has many hot springs to use. They do not tap into lava.

[ShamsT]

01:01 PM on 07/09/2011

How ironic. The Japanese are afraid of the low level radiation from nuclear power plants but they have no problem bathing in hot springs with thousands of times more radiation from radon.

[mairs]

08:31 PM on 07/09/2011

Make fun of an entire country. Go ahead. It really helps your "side".

They are afraid of accidents, especially those in which the owner of the plant can't even open the doors to a reactor building for three months.

[ShamsT]

09:49 PM on 07/09/2011

Not making fun of Japan. I've just come to an understanding of their fear and your fear. This fear has nothing to do with rational thinking.

Your fear of radiation from nuclear power is based on false premises and misunderstandings. But although unreasonable, this fear is real and has been shown to cause psychological effects much more damaging than any of the physical effects of radiation.

Only problem is that your fear and this fear of radiation you share with others causes increasingly foolish choices by our representatives (e.g., in Germany, perhaps in Japan) in decisions about the future of nuclear power.

[Atoms4Peace1]

05:19 PM on 07/10/2011

Shams is correct. The radon in hot springs is much more radioactive than what Fukushima has to offer.

Afraid, fear, geez I wonder why? Could it be all the antinuclear propaganda? If people really truely understood what risk means, and the actual radiation values that can cause a harmful effect, then there would be less fear.

You stay out in the sun too long, you get a sunburn. You know that.

Why would you want the owners to open the reactor building doors? Its keeping radiation and contamination from spreading. Doesn't make sense to open the doors.

[aligatorhardt]

09:23 AM on 07/11/2011

Let's see that study. Link?

[ginger42]

05:02 AM on 07/09/2011

Sounds nice--and does have potential. But it is not a free ride and does have dangers

[CaptD]

03:38 PM on 07/09/2011

Fanned and Fav'd!
Well Said
Please keeping post the truth!

[mairs]

08:32 PM on 07/09/2011

Ginger is the poster who was ridiculing people for being concerned about radiation. She also was linking or referring to Japanese children who were saying everything is fine and Americans were overreacting.

[Atoms4Peace1]

05:20 PM on 07/10/2011

Everything in life has dangers. This is the reality of the situation on this planet. We can choose to avoid the dangers, however even avoiding danger poses danger. How much more global warming, pollution, and radiation from coal plants do you want over the next 30 years? The global demand for electricity will go up 50% in that time.

[aligatorhardt]

09:30 AM on 07/11/2011

We want renewable, cleaner energy sources, not coal, not nuclear. Geothermal done right is one of the better choices. It is not 100% risk free, but far better than nuclear and coal.

[Bushido08]

05:13 PM on 07/08/2011

Oh boy, this is a great idea but I hope they don't mess up the hot spring baths doing this. That is my favorite past time when I visit Japan. Nothing like a nice hot soak in an onsen or a senic rotenburo with a bottle of sake!

[Atoms4Peace1]

05:21 PM on 07/10/2011

Do geisha's come along?

[patman77]

02:20 PM on 07/08/2011

to late. just like exon yellowstone

[mrJJ]

09:34 AM on 07/08/2011

Japan May Be Nuclear Free by May as Tests Delay Restarts

Japan may have no nuclear reactors running by May next year should the round of tests announced by the government this week cause further delays to restarting units idled for maintenance, a Bloomberg survey shows.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-08/japan-may-be-nuclear-free-by-may.html

[CaptD]

03:40 PM on 07/09/2011

GREAT NEWS for Solar of all flavors
Japan will beat the Germans to Solar Next Generation Tech!

[Pandoras Folly]

08:26 AM on 07/13/2011

Do you understand how a thorium reactor works?

[Kenz300]

01:42 AM on 07/08/2011

If the Japanese people and their major corporations decided to support alternative energy, the clean energy revolution would get a jump start. The research and development in Japan is top grade.

They need to ditch nuclear energy and put their efforts in wind, solar, wave energy, geothermal and second generation biofuels made from algae, cellulose and waste. The cost and dangers of nuclear energy are too high. It is time to transition to safe, clean alternative energy.

[mdinoregon]

02:05 AM on 07/08/2011

And now they found a source of rare earths in the ocean....(Probably got a load on the research vessel already and doesn't take much to dope a crystal.)
I see them doing to solar what they did to transitor radios back in the 60's.Clean,cheap and actually safe.

[CaptD]

03:32 PM on 07/09/2011

YES and "repay" the World for their Fuky Eco-Disaster!

[Atoms4Peace1]

05:22 PM on 07/10/2011

The R&D in Japan is top notch. Their nuclear lab, Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute is one of the best in the world. JAERI is already developing advanced reactors and pyroprocessing.

[markkocaldo]

12:34 AM on 07/08/2011

Massively polluting with sulfur emission, mass LARGE SCALE gigawatt level geothermal energy requires drilling deep into the earth injecting water and pumping with not yet invented 400 deg C pumps supercriti­cal steam to the surface driving generators but also causing earthquake­s."

I know most greenies have trouble using Google so:

In general

http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/withouthotair/c16/page_96.shtml

The pump problem

http://geothermalinnovation.org/

The sulfuric acid problem

"... they do propose an environmental threat because of the hydrogen sulfide, H2S, which is contained in most geothermal steam sources .."

http://www.merichem.com/resources/technical_papers/geothermal_power_plants.php

And lots on the earthquakes.

As I stated:

Your car will be powered by a Mr. Fusion device long before large scale geothermal becomes viable.

I presume you are all in favor of nuke fusion.

Japan has no alternativ­e to nuclear power.

[mdinoregon]

01:34 AM on 07/08/2011

Control Issues Much??
Be sure to make your demands directly to the Japanese people.
But by the way, sulfur content vary with rocks or, big word for you, formations,some have a lot some have none.But feel free to rant all you want.
And just by the way,where there a hotsprings or geysers you don't have to go deep.Don't want to get too sciencey for your one dimensional world.But we and Japan have a few of those.

[markkocaldo]

01:28 PM on 07/08/2011

Yup Hotspring geothermal's been around for a long time in fact thousand of years.. Nothing new. Wonder why Hawaii gets 99% of its energy from petrol when last I looked the place is one giant volcano.

BCHydro tried to interest power producers in bidding on geothermal power at world famous Meager Hot Springs. Despite receiving hundreds of bids on run of the river and wind power they got not a one for the geothermal. Why do you suppose that is?

[Atoms4Peace1]

05:23 PM on 07/10/2011

Your science is not science. There is a lot of quackery out there.

[snowballinhell]

04:34 AM on 07/08/2011

I've made this suggestion here before. Even gave hints how it could be done differently. You can see my comments here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/snowballinhell/germany-nuclear-power-plant-shut-down_n_868786_91121045.html

Ana what happens with our world when we use old radioactive material in other products our society produces:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/snowballinhell/germany-nuclear-power-plant-shut-down_n_868786_90524092.html

http://www.thewe.cc/weplanet/news/depleted_uranium_iraq_afghanistan_balkans.html

[Atoms4Peace1]

10:36 PM on 07/07/2011

If Japan wants to go heavy into geothermal, they better make sure this rampant activity is well thought out, and does not lead to an increase likelihood of earthquakes that can compromise nuclear plants that will still be in service

Does Geothermal Power Cause Earthquakes?
A new energy method could trigger a risky side effect

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-03/does-geothermal-power-cause-earthquakes

[mdinoregon]

02:08 AM on 07/08/2011

Rampant activity
?OK.You did see hotsprings in the story right? or didn't bother to read....again.

[Atoms4Peace1]

02:52 AM on 07/09/2011

Even hot springs have sulfur content that needs attention. Ever been to Yellowstone?

[Jeffrey Williams]

05:39 PM on 07/08/2011

Always looking for an out for Nuclear aren't you A4PDSL ~ What if they fill all the reactors with concrete like the fellow in the video said and call them "temples of human stupidity"
Then there would be no more danger of them MELTING DOWN !

[Atoms4Peace1]

05:28 PM on 07/10/2011

Humans are stupid for wanting to replace nuclear with coal - more radioactivity, more pollution, more global warming, more deaths per year.

You cant fight the facts - the coal industry wants less nuclear, they always had. Now TVA has it right - they will not build another coal plant and instead there are 4 nuclear plants being completed/planned

Danger of melting down is a risk, and risk = likelihood * consequence.

Use my name right. Whats a DSL?

[Angie Cordeiro]

10:01 PM on 07/07/2011

Here's a headline that does not denote fear:

"Japan Exploring Being World Leader in Nuclear Clean-up Industry"