NZ & Japan in action: envisioning the future of geothermal energy

Dr Mizuno speaking at the New Zealand Embassy

The Embassy recently hosted 25 Tokyo based diplomats from 20 embassies for an energy seminar focusing on Japan’s ambitious renewable energy targets. The main speaker was Dr Emi Mizuno, Senior Researcher at the Japan Renewable Energy Foundation (JREF).

Dr Mizuno received her PhD from MIT, researched energy policy at Harvard and Cambridge, and is currently a Senior Researcher at JREF – a new RE research institute founded by Softbank billionaire Son Masayoshi. Her recent publications include “Geothermal Power Development in New Zealand – lessons for Japan” (September 2012, JREF), which was very well received by the geothermal community in Japan.

Dr Mizuno will also participate in a Japan New Zealand Geothermal Workshop (March 18-20, Taupo). The workshop has a two pronged focus – exploring commercial partnerships in geothermal energy for New Zealand and Japan in third countries, and policy/regulatory settings for geothermal energy development.