The Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) of Japan has announced a new subsidy program aimed at raising awareness of geothermal power generation. The program is designed to support projects that help local communities understand geothermal resource development, especially those living near geothermal sites.
The call for applications for the ‘Subsidies for Projects Promoting the Understanding of Geothermal Power Generation’ is currently open and will close on April 14, 2025. This initiative focuses on funding activities that contribute to increasing awareness and knowledge about geothermal power generation, particularly in areas where geothermal development is already underway or planned for the future.
The subsidy will cover a variety of activities, including:
Study Sessions and Events:
- Seminars and study sessions that focus on geothermal resource development.
- Visits to geothermal power generation facilities (mainly domestic facilities).
- Managing meetings for stakeholders in areas with geothermal resource development.
- Preliminary surveys and assessments of projects that use hot water.
The projects eligible for the subsidy must take place in locations where geothermal resource development is happening or planned. The target sites should aim for a geothermal power generation output of at least 1,000 kW.
Hot Spring Impact Survey Projects: This part of the subsidy covers projects to drill for hot spring resources in cases where natural hot spring water is significantly reduced due to geothermal development. This subsidy targets areas where geothermal development is underway with a target output of at least 5,000 kW, or where there are existing power plants with that output.
The goal of this subsidy program is to ensure that local communities are informed and involved in the geothermal energy development process, making it a more sustainable and accepted resource for the future.
