Japan
Contracting Party: Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC)
Executive Committee Member:
Hiroshi Asanuma
Councilor
Renewable Energy Business Unit
JOGMEC
Japan
Alternate Member:
Yukie Ashihara
Deputy Director
Renewable Energy Business Unit
JOGMEC
Japan
Geothermal power generation first occurred in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, Kyushu in 1925 (1.12 kW). The practical use of geothermal power really commenced in 1966 with the commissioning of the 9.5 MWe Matsukawa Geothermal Power Plant (currently 23.5 MWe), Iwate Prefecture, in northern Honshu. In 2016, marking its fiftieth year of operation, the Matsukawa Geothermal Power Plant was certified as a Mechanical Engineering Site of Japan by the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Japan, as a volcanic country, is blessed with abundant geothermal resources, including the prospect of super-critical resources.
In February 2025 the Seventh Strategic Energy Plan was approved by the Cabinet. It continues to position geothermal energy as an important domestic renewable energy resource. The plan envisages geothermal contributing approximately 1-2% of Japan's electricity generation mix by FY2040 up from the current 0.3% .
At the end of 2025 Japanese geothermal power plant capacity was ~520 MWe.
Direct geothermal use capacity is~2200 MWth producing ~24,000 TJ/year (FY year 2023 data).
Geothermal Heat pump installed capacity is ~240 MWth (FY year 2023 data).
JOGMEC is active in four areas of geothermal technology research and development ;
Geothermal Reservoir Exploration
Drilling Technology Development
Enhanced Geothermal System Technology
Innovative Geothermal Technology (EGS using supercritical CO2)
Promotional measures in play since 2011 to intensify deployment of Renewable Energy have brought renewed interest in geothermal energy development in Japan.
JOGMEC has support programmes in place for geothermal exploration and development projects. By the end of 2025, 105 projects in total have been supported by JOGMEC. These include 72 grant subsidies for commercial developers, 25 grant subsidies for local municipalities, 1 equity capital investment and 7 loan liability guarantees.
NEDO began funding research in 2017 on subduction-origin supercritical geothermal resources, which has potential for tens of giga-watts of power generation for Japan. Fundamental studies are being conducted, led by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) and Kyoto University looking to utilise the 500oC supercritical fluids that are anticipated to be present at up to 5km depths in many of the volcanic zones in Japan. The work is looking to commercialise these technologies in the 2030s and facilitate their widespread deployment across Japan by around 2050, contributing to a significant expansion of geothermal power generation capacity
The 2025 report includes information on nine NEDO research and development projects. NEDO has quite a focus on AI and IoT applications applied to geothermal resources and geothermal power plants.
