Groundwater springs are valuable for supporting local lifestyles, culture, and indigenous beliefs, such as water goddess shrines. Located in the center of the Matsumoto Basin, which is known for its abundance of groundwater, Matsumoto City in Nagano Prefecture has an abundance of groundwater, as represented by the Matsumoto Castletown Springs, which add color to local culture and life through wells and waterways, and are still a valuable tourist resource today. On the other hand, these riparian environments are being lost due to the decrease in the number of wells caused by the spread of water supply and the conversion of waterways to culverts (underground passageways) due to road expansion. However, from the perspective of TNFD and Nature Positive, which have been advocated in recent years, attention is being paid to the conservation and sustainable use of local natural resources (biodiversity, air, water, soil, and minerals) through public-private partnerships. If new use values can be created for the spring water in Matsumoto, it is expected to contribute to the development of the region even more than before as a valuable local resource.

Researchers at AIST, in collaboration with Ibaraki University, have demonstrated the feasibility of "spring-water temperature difference power generation" using the temperature difference between spring water and the ambient air. By using the generated electricity, the temperature of spring water can be measured without batteries, and the data can be collected automatically via wireless communication. This technology uses thermoelectric power generation, which is an interconversion of heat and electricity in a solid, so it does not require moving parts such as a water wheel, and power can be generated even in waterways where there is no water flow. It can also generate power continuously in the shade where sunlight does not reach and at night. This technology also enables continuous environmental measurement with low maintenance costs and early detection of changes in spring water caused by human activities. By creating multifaceted value by utilizing the thermal energy of spring water as electric power, this technology is expected to contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of spring water as a local resource.