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Development of products for deep geothermal power generation

Taking on the challenge of "supercritical geothermal energy" to change the world's energy environment using heat from the earth

Geothermal power generation attracts attention as clean energy

"Clean energy" is a key point in decarbonization. Securing alternative energy sources to oil, gas, and other energy sources will bring humanity a great deal closer to a sustainable society. Energy sources that do not emit CO2 include nuclear power, hydroelectric power, wind power, solar power, and biomass. One of these is "geothermal energy."
The temperature at the center of the Earth, which is covered by magma and mantle, is about 7,000 degrees, and the amount of thermal energy is almost infinite. In the stratum 1.5km to 2km underground where the temperature is over 200°C, rainwater and other water is heated and accumulates in the bedrock. Geothermal power generation is a system in which hot water from deep underground is extracted as steam and used to turn turbines to generate electricity.

Geothermal energy has some extremely unique features among clean energies. Unlike hydroelectric, wind, and solar power, it is not affected by weather or climate, and does not require a large site. Small-scale power generation equipment produces electricity stably 24 hours a day. On the other hand, underground temperatures vary greatly from place to place, so there are only a limited number of points where it is easy to excavate. Therefore, geothermal energy will create new "resource countries."

Japan is one of the world's leading "geothermal" resource countries

Japan is one of the world's leading "resource-rich countries." Japan has many spots where magma accumulates, such as volcanoes and plate boundaries, and is the third largest country in the world in terms of geothermal resources. Japan has the potential to become an energy superpower in the future.

Despite this, currently geothermal power generation in Japan accounts for only 0.2% of the total. Geothermal power plants are time-consuming and expensive to build, and because the earth contains harmful gases, safety must be taken into consideration when processing the energy above ground. EBARA is a rare manufacturer that has the technology for almost all of the main equipment in geothermal power plants, including pumps, turbines, cooling towers, and condensers, and has been working to advance and popularize geothermal power generation.

Currently, a big challenge has begun in the field of geothermal energy. This is "deep depth/supercritical geothermal energy." Ultra-hot material at 400 to 500 degrees has been discovered in a magma chamber 3 to 6 km underground, deeper than previously discovered. Its true identity is ancient seawater that was drawn in when the plates subducted, and it has transformed into a mysterious fluid that is neither liquid nor gas. "Supercritical geothermal fluid" is a highly toxic and corrosive fluid that is subject to high temperatures and pressures, but one magma chamber is thought to contain the thermal energy of 30 nuclear reactors. Currently, in Japan, it is possible to generate regional electricity equivalent to one-tenth of that produced by a single nuclear reactor, and drilling has begun toward a deep magma chamber. The goal is to have a pilot plant in the 2030s. And a large-scale plant in the 2050s.

Ebara takes on the challenge of "supercritical geothermal" power generation

Engineers from all over the world are working on research and development of supercritical geothermal power generation, which has the potential to dramatically change the energy environment of the future. In this environment, Ebara, as a fluid control specialist with many years of experience in pump manufacturing, is also working to successfully develop "supercritical geothermal" power generation, something that no one has succeeded in yet. We have a proven track record with conventional geothermal pumps, and we also have the advantage of producing turbines that can generate electricity using steam. We also have knowledge of various materials and corrosion resistance, as well as extensive experience in compressing mixed gases. By drawing on the progress we have made to date, EBARA will continue to accelerate its new challenges toward 2050, with momentum building, in order to realize a clean energy living environment for the future.