To utilize coal as a fuel, the coal must be gasified and refined to remove dust and sulfur. We began construct-ing this facility in 1999. Test operations will run for three years, from 2002. At the same time, we will test solid-oxide fuel cells. Geothermal Power Generation Japan has more than 200 geothermal zones with massive amounts of exploitable energy.
Geothermal energy is renewable and emits almost no carbon dioxide.
EPDC started geothermal studies around Japan in 1960. In 1975, we started operating the Onikobe Geothermal Power Station in Miyagi Prefecture, a 12,500-kilowatt facility. We have completed develop-ment and environmental impact surveys for the Oguni Geothermal Power Development Project in Kumamoto Prefecture. This facility will have a ca-pacity of 20,000 kilowatts. NEDO commissioned us to develop several related technologies.