地熱情報研究所（Geothermal Information Institute）

九州大を３月末に定年退職した前日本地熱学会長の江原・九州大名誉教授が、地熱発電の普及を後押しするＮＰＯを手弁当で立ち上げた。日本は世界３位の地熱資源国なのに、発電量に占める割合は１％に満たない。「資源があるのに使われないのは、専門家の責任」。そんな思いが頭を離れず、大学や企業への再就職の誘いを全て断って、市民向けの情報発信に専念する道を選んだ。
　このＮＰＯは「地熱情報研究所」。研究者や技術者の有志を募り、地熱発電の意義やしくみを社会に広く知らせるネットワーク組織に育てる構想だ。まずは解説サイトの作成や講演、出前授業などに取り組む。地熱開発業界と一線を画すため、費用は全額自分の退職金や貯金をあて、退職後に転居した埼玉県狭山市の実家を拠点にする。事務局長は元日本地熱学会長の野田・産業技術総合研究所顧問が引き受けた。
　地熱は太陽光や風力と違って、天気に左右されず２４時間安定して発電できるのが強み。地球温暖化対策も追い風となり、世界では、右肩上がりで増えている。
　このNPOの設立が、地熱発電の普及に大きくつながっていくといいですね。

Professor Emeritus, Kyushu University, Gangwon of Geothermal Research Society of Japan long before retired at the end of March the Kyushu University, launched by the Tebento the NPO to boost the spread of geothermal power generation. Japan is a country but the world's third largest geothermal resources, the proportion of power generation amount is less than 1%. "Why do not I used to have resources, the responsibility of the expert." Chose to, I believe that without having to leave the head, refused re-employment to all the invitation of universities and companies, to concentrate on the dissemination of information for citizens.

"Geothermal Information Institute" NPO this. I plan to grow a network organization for volunteers of researchers and engineers, to inform the public of the social significance and mechanism of geothermal power generation. Create a site commentary and lectures, design, and their First Class Delivery. Apart from the industry and for geothermal development, cost savings and rely on your full retirement benefit, based in a home of Sayama, Saitama Prefecture was moved to after retirement. National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology Advisor to the Secretary of the length of Geothermal Research Society of Japan Noda assumed the original.

Geothermal strength, unlike solar and wind, and power generation can be stable for 24 hours without being affected by the weather. Measures against global warming will be a fair wind, in the world is increasing at ever-increasing.

I hope this is the establishment of the NPO, and will lead to the spread of large geothermal power generation.