Xenesys Co., Ltd.
Japanese engineering company specializing in ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC), discharged thermal energy conversion (DTEC), and fully welded plate heat exchangers.
Last updated September 27, 2026
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Overview
Xenesys Co., Ltd. (株式会社ゼネシス) is a Japanese engineering company headquartered in Imari, Saga Prefecture, focused on thermal energy conversion technologies and heat exchanger manufacturing. The company traces its origins to 1989, when Kiminao Satomi founded Satomi Sangyo Co., Ltd. and developed the 'Himeii-zukuri' sake brewing system. In 1997, the company established its U-TEC Energy Division and began working toward the realization of ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC). It was renamed Xenesys Co., Ltd. in 2001. Xenesys develops and manufactures equipment for ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC), discharged thermal energy conversion (DTEC), and binary power generation using hot spring water, geothermal heat, and industrial waste heat. Its core technology is the fully welded plate heat exchanger, marketed as the 'XP Plate' series, which was originally developed for OTEC and later commercialized for general industrial use. The company also produces groundwater coolers and temperature-difference power plant simulators. Xenesys has been involved in numerous demonstration and research projects in Japan and abroad, including a 100 kW-class OTEC demonstration test in Kumejima, Okinawa, and projects in Malaysia, Mauritius, and Nauru. It has collaborated with partners such as Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and Saga University. The company operates a factory in Imari, Saga Prefecture, and previously had a factory in Shioyama (now Koshu, Yamanashi Prefecture). As of the 2020s, Xenesys continues to work toward the commercialization of OTEC and the expansion of binary power generation and heat recovery systems.
History
Xenesys Co., Ltd. was founded on March 30, 1989, by Kiminao Satomi as Satomi Sangyo Co., Ltd. The company initially developed, manufactured, and sold the 'Himeii-zukuri' sake brewing system, which combined traditional techniques with modern factory automation. In September 1997, the company established its U-TEC Energy Division and began efforts toward realizing ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC). In November 1997, it dispatched a dedicated researcher to Saga University's Faculty of Science and Engineering (Uehara Laboratory). In April 1999, it opened the U-TEC Office Saga research office. In February 2000, it signed an exclusive license agreement with Saga University for six patents related to OTEC and thermal energy conversion devices (domestic, US, and EPC). In October 2001, the company changed its name to Xenesys Co., Ltd. (株式会社ゼネシス). In January 2002, it completed the Shioyama Factory in Yamanashi Prefecture (now Koshu City) and began full-scale development of fully welded plate heat exchangers for OTEC. In May 2002, it received an order from Saga University for the world's first comprehensive ocean energy research center (approximately 3 billion yen), which was completed in March 2003. In June 2003, it transferred all brewing machinery manufacturing and sales operations to Satomi Sangyo Co., Ltd. to focus on the energy business. From 2003 to 2010, it conducted various surveys on OTEC, waste heat power generation, and desalination in the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific region. In March 2004, it obtained the ASME U-Stamp, establishing a pressure vessel manufacturing base. In January 2005, it obtained ISO 9001 certification for the Shioyama Factory, followed by the Engineering Division in March 2006. In August 2007, it obtained welding management process certification under the Electricity Business Act. In November 2007, it completed the Thermal Energy Conversion Research and Development Center and the Imari Factory in Saga Prefecture, and closed the Shioyama Factory after relocating equipment. In November 2007, its proposal 'Thermal Energy Conversion Business Centered on OTEC Technology' won the Grand Prize in the Venture Open Division at Eco Japan Cup 2007. In December 2007, it began developing binary power generation units for hot spring water. In July 2010, it conducted a basic survey for comprehensive utilization of deep ocean water in Kumejima, Okinawa. In June 2011, it began selling its fully welded plate heat exchanger (XP Plate), originally developed in 2001 for OTEC, for various industrial applications; cumulative sales exceeded 140 units as of 2023. From July 2012, it started a 100 kW-class demonstration test at the Okinawa Prefecture Deep Sea Water Research Institute in Kumejima. From August 2018, it began developing new heat exchangers for scale and corrosion resistance at Obama Onsen in Unzen, Nagasaki Prefecture, and started a project to support OTEC commercialization in Malaysia with Saga University, the University of Tokyo, and AIST under a JICA SATREPS project (2018–2023). In March 2019, it moved its head office to Imari, Saga Prefecture, and opened a Tokyo office in Koto Ward. In March 2021, it installed a hybrid hot spring binary power generation unit in Ureshino Onsen, Saga Prefecture. From October 2022, it began the 'Demonstration of OTEC for Building a Regional Circular Symbiotic Sphere Utilizing Deep Ocean Water in Kumejima' project with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and Saga University, under a Ministry of the Environment project. As of the 2020s, the company continues to accelerate efforts toward 100% renewable energy in Kumejima, develop new heat recovery and power generation technologies for hot spring binary and geothermal power, and contribute to energy savings and global warming countermeasures through plate heat exchangers and groundwater coolers.
Kiminao Satomi founded Satomi Sangyo Co., Ltd. and began developing, manufacturing, and selling the 'Himeii-zukuri' sake brewing system.
Established U-TEC Energy Division and began efforts toward ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC).
Dispatched a dedicated researcher to Saga University's Faculty of Science and Engineering (Uehara Laboratory).
Opened U-TEC Office Saga research office.
Signed exclusive license agreement with Saga University for six patents related to OTEC and thermal energy conversion devices.
Changed company name to Xenesys Co., Ltd. (株式会社ゼネシス).
Completed Shioyama Factory in Yamanashi Prefecture and began full-scale development of fully welded plate heat exchangers for OTEC.
Received order from Saga University for the world's first comprehensive ocean energy research center (approx. 3 billion yen).
Transferred all brewing machinery manufacturing and sales operations to Satomi Sangyo Co., Ltd. to focus on energy business.
Obtained ASME U-Stamp, establishing pressure vessel manufacturing base.
Products and positioning
Engineering company specializing in thermal energy conversion and heat exchange technologies for renewable energy and industrial energy recovery.
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) systems
Systems that generate electricity using the temperature difference between warm surface seawater and cold deep seawater.
Discharged Thermal Energy Conversion (DTEC) systems
Systems that generate electricity from waste heat sources such as industrial exhaust heat and hot spring water.
XP Plate fully welded plate heat exchanger
A gasket-free, fully welded plate heat exchanger suitable for high-temperature and high-pressure applications, originally developed for OTEC.
Binary power generation units for hot spring water
Power generation units that use hot spring water as a heat source.
Groundwater coolers
Cooling systems that utilize natural cold energy from groundwater.
Temperature-difference power plant simulators
Simulators for designing and analyzing temperature-difference power plants.
Sources5 sources
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