Matsukawa Geothermal is a 23.5 MW geothermal power plant in Japan, operated by Tohoku Electric Power Co since 1966. Ranked #12 of 16 geothermal plants in Japan. Its 23.5 MW represents 3.11% of Japan's total geothermal capacity of 756 MW. The largest geothermal plant in Japan is 八丁原地熱発電所 at 110 MW, making Matsukawa 4.7 times smaller. Nearby plants within 50 km include Kakkonda (80 MW, Geothermal), Sumikawa Akita (50 MW, Geothermal), and Shizukuishi (24.8 MW, Solar). The facility is located in the Iwate Prefecture, approximately 500 km north of Tokyo.
60 years old
Japan, Asia
- Primary Fuel Type
- Geothermal
- Energy Source
- Renewable
- Country
Japan- Continent
- Asia
- Data Source
- Global Power Plant Database
Geothermal power generation harnesses the Earth's internal heat to produce electricity. This renewable energy source exploits the thermal energy stored beneath the Earth's crust, which can be accessed through geothermal power plants. These plants typically utilize steam or hot water from geothermal reservoirs to drive turbines that generate electricity. The process begins by drilling wells into geothermal reservoirs, often located in tectonically active regions, where the temperature gradient is favorable for energy extraction. The steam or hot water extracted is then channeled to turbines, converting thermal energy into mechanical energy, which is subsequently transformed into electrical energy by generators.
Help us improve our database by reporting any corrections or updates. Your contribution helps keep our global power plant data accurate and up-to-date.