Atami City Installs System to Generate Power from Hot Spring Steam, Tap Water

Atami City in Japan's Shizuoka Prefecture installed on October 5, 2012, a system to generate electricity using low-grade thermal energy conversion at a hot spring source in Kamijuku Town, with technical assistance from Professor Yoshiyasu Takefuji of the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies at Keio University. Incorporating five Seebeck elements, which convert heat (temperature differences) into electrical energy, the system generates about 15 watts of electricity using the difference in temperature between hot spring steam at about 100 degrees Celsius and tap water at about 20 degrees Celsius.

The electricity generated is being used to illuminate a three-watt LED lamp 24 hours a day and to power an audio information device that gives a brief explanation of the mechanism of this type of power generation. The audio device is equipped with a transverse wave speaker featuring reduced sound attenuation and significantly low power consumption, only one-hundredth of the electricity needed by conventional speakers. The generated power is also being used to provide free charging for smart phones and free WiFi.

Atami City intends to continue the demonstration until March 29, 2013, and then will consider permanent operation of the system.