Fukushima Town Powers Itself With 140°C Hot Springs

Tsuchiyu in Japan's Fukushima Prefecture uses a closed-loop binary cycle system to generate electricity from 140°C hot spring water while returning it to the ground at its original temperature. Cooling water is reused for shrimp farming and revenue funds community services.

• Binary cycle generates power from 140°C water without depleting onsen
• Spent water returns underground at original temperature and flow rate
• Cooling water is repurposed for shrimp farming
• Japan taps less than 3% of its geothermal potential