Hot Springs: Paving Way For New Energy

Ever since I was a kid, I've admired Japanese culture. The well-preserved temples, colorful kimonos, unique celebrations, ghost stories, a lively economy, advanced technology, the girls, perhaps even anime; these are some of the factors that got me interested in the Land of the Rising Sun. I made it a point to do my best to give the country a visit before I die. Oh, and there's another thing that made me want to go to Japan.

Hot springs. Referred to as onsen in Japanese, hot springs constitute the distinct image of Japan to the rest of the world. When asked about Japan, most people tend to picture steaming hot springs with Japanese people chest-deep in the water. My grandmother says hot springs can be really hot; one can even die of heat stroke if he stayed on the spring for too long. Still, my desire to give hot springs a try cannot be deterred by heat strokes and similar things.

And now, recent events showed that hot springs can be used beyond the common purposes of relaxation of death by heat stroke. Japan, which is still recovering from the nuclear tragedy at Fukushima, considers tapping on the hidden energy stored in these waters.

It's almost a no-brainer for engineers that hot springs are potential sources of geothermal energy, which, given enough time, can gradually replace the staples in our energy industry; coal, fossil fuel, and nuclear energy. However, onsen owners expressed concern about the side effects of using hot springs as energy sources. But then, the need for alternative energy becomes more and more urgent as time passes.

For decades, onsen owners have stifled development of a huge potential source of clean energy: geothermal power. They argue that the tapping of heated aquifers in volcanic Japan will drain the onsen dry, increase pollution and ruin a cherished form of relaxation. With Japan on the verge of running out of nuclear power, however, the demand for new sources of energy is becoming harder to resist.

Three Japanese companies—Toshiba, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Fuji Electric—control more than half of the global market for geothermal turbines, yet Japan itself gets a mere 0.3% of its energy, or 537 megawatts, from its own steam. The industry’s promoters say that Japan sits on about 20,000 MW of geothermal energy, or the equivalent of 20 nuclear reactors, though not all of this could be developed. Since the disaster at Fukushima last year, all but one of the nation’s 54 nuclear reactors are now temporarily suspended, reducing Japan’s power-generating capacity by about a third. That has accelerated the search for alternatives.

(Source: Link)

The Japanese government announced that its electricity companies are set to purchase renewable energy at certain prices, which are yet to be determined. Meanwhile, the environment ministry confirmed that it will now allow projects for the development of geothermal energy in national parks.

The need for a persuasive government to convince the hot spring owners to step aside has been raised, given the close-to-nature disposition of the locals. This issue was raised by Tetsunari Iida, head of Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies, who also emphasized the need to go beyond what Japan's geothermal turbines can provide, hinting on the necessity to use the springs. Meanwhile, companies plan to construct a geothermal plant on Fukushima, which also has hot springs.

Cultural tensions might arise from this revolutionary project, but at least a friend can lend a hand. For instance, Iceland is also leading the march towards the utilization of geothermal energy.

To speed things up, Japan could also look overseas for help. Iceland, for instance, generates the same amount of geothermal energy as Japan, though Japan has 400 times more people. A Japanese expert, Hirofumi Muraoka, calculates that one mid-sized northern city, Aomori, with a population about the size of Iceland’s 318,000, could save enormously on imported fuel bills and heating costs by tapping geothermal springs nearby. Besides generating electricity, it could use the hot water from the springs to heat houses, as Iceland does.

Furthermore, Ambassador Stefan Stefansson stated that Japan can handle geothermal energy without government subsidies; all it needs is proper management. Finally, as a counter to protesting hot spring owners from Japan, Stefansson argued:

“Go to your computer and type in “Blue Lagoon”. There you will find the biggest onsen in the world and we have them all over Iceland. How’s that for pollution?”

Given the facts, there is hope for the rise of clean energy from our favorite hot springs. However, the issue is still riddled with government bureaucracy and cultural barriers. Although Iceland is eager to cooperate with Japanese efforts to pursue alternative energy sources, to get rid of every obstacle can prove to be quite a challenge.

I must agree with Stefansson in saying that Japan can succeed without state subsidies. After all, subsidization is a dubious source of funding, especially when Japan is pursuing a terra incognita; a new project to be tested (not to mention subsidies bear bureaucratic implications). It can be argued that the government ought to keep its funds safe while the private sector works it out. Of course the state can subsidize a fraction of the project just to absorb possible screw-ups, but I firmly believe that this project shouldn't solely depend on the government.

I laud the decision of the environment ministry's decision of opening up the parks as possible sources of geothermal energy. Of course, to preserve the beauty of the parks (which also serve as income for tourism), it is advisable that environmental compensation contracts be signed, although I'm confident Japan has this covered. 

The onsen owners won't be left our in this. Given the fact that their springs are potential energy sources, it is possible that they will find another source of income; they can opt to be shareholders of companies that will utilize their springs and have a say on the matter. After all, it's their springs that will be put into use.

In the midst of these events that inspire optimism, it's quite safe to say that we might be closer to finally utilizing clean energy on larger scales. Before I end this article, I'd like a separate endeavor of South Korea to pursue the widespread usage of clean energy. It's old news, but still worth mentioning.

My sincerest thanks to Nikola Tesla for this one.

I might sound cheesy for saying this but, onward the march for clean energy!

P.S: My engineering senses are tingling.