Press Releases
Study Tour to Fukushima Prefecture for the Diplomatic Corps
(Visit to the Fukushima Renewable Energy Institute, AIST (FREA) and other energy related facilities)
1. On Thursday, November 1, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will organize a Study Tour to Fukushima Prefecture for the Diplomatic Corps in cooperation with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Fukushima Prefecture, Fukushima City, Koriyama City, and Agency for Natural Resources and Energy. This Study Tour comprises site visits to the Fukushima Renewable Energy Institute, AIST (FREA), a geothermal plant in Tsuchiyu Onsen in Fukushima City and other facilities.
2. Organized as the third Study Tour following the last one in June 2017, it aims at introducing to the diplomatic corps the activities for achieving maximum expansion in renewable energy, which is the policy goal presented in the “Fukushima Plan for a New Energy Society” and disseminating the information about Japan’s renewable energy-related facilities and cutting-edge technologies to the world.
3. During the visit to FREA, in addition to the site visit to its facilities, a seminar focused on the renewable energy diplomacy and introduction of the latest technologies will be held in order to deepen participants’ understanding in Japan's global efforts on renewable energy and “Fukushima Plan for a New Energy Society”.
4. At Tsuchiyu Onsen, besides visiting the binary geothermal power plant, lunch using local product will be served for the diplomatic corps, and fruit picking at a fruit farm in Fukushima City is also scheduled in order to appeal the safety and security, as well as deliciousness, of food from Fukushima to the diplomatic corps.
[Note 1] The Fukushima Plan for a New Energy Society:
Formulated as the initiative of the Prime Minister Abe, this plan aims to make Fukushima Prefecture a pioneering region in terms of renewable energy and future "Hydrogen Society," creating in Fukushima a model for realizing the new energy society of the future and disseminating it to the world.
[Note 2] Participating countries (in alphabetical order) [12 participants from 11 countries (as of October 29, 2018)]
China, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Kenya, Republic of Korea, Philippines, United Arab Emirates, United States
[Note 3] Schedule
Thursday November 1, 2018
-The Fukushima Renewable Energy Institute, AIST (FREA)
-Tsuchiyu Onsen (binary geothermal power generation)
-Fruit Line
[Note 4] Binary geothermal power generation
Binary power generation operates a turbine by a working fluid with a much lower boiling point (e.g. CFC substitutes) heated by hot spring water, not operating the turbine directly using hot spring water. The binary power generation is suitable for the hot-spring resort area due to its advantage of availability for the lower temperature spa water and smaller influence on the hot springs.
