Nuclear Energy in Japan

Introduction

Fig. 1: Map of Area surrounding Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. [12,13] (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

As one of the world's most technologically advanced nations, Japan has long embraced nuclear power as a cornerstone of its energy strategy, driven by the nation's limited domestic energy resources and its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Given its population of over 125 million, Japan stands at a pivotal moment in its energy policy, highlighted by Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide's goal for carbon neutrality by 2050 and a new GHG emission reduction target by 2030. [1] The government further emphasized the prioritization of nuclear safety in moving forward, upholding public trust following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011. Consequently, nuclear energy will likely become a significant aspect of Japan's future energy blueprint.

Fukushima Disaster

In 2011, Japan's east coast was struck with a 9.0 earthquake, causing a 14-m tsunami and dealing substantial damage to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, and disabling all AC power to Units 1, 2, and 3, as well as carrying off fuel tanks for emergency diesel generators. [2,3] With 14,000 deaths this disaster was said to be the worst since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, prompting the severity level of the crisis to be raised to level 7 by the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency of Japan. [4,5]

The response to the escalating damage at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant was marked by confusion and misinformation, leading to challenges in evacuation efforts. 146,520 residents were evacuated from the area, however, many residents were unaware of the danger, resulting in haphazard and ill-prepared evacuations. These government evacuation orders were repeatedly revised, with the evacuation zone expanding from a 3 kilometer radius, to 10 kilometers, and then 20 kilometers, all within the same day. [6,7] Unfortunately, the misorganization led to some evacuees being relocated to sites with high levels of radiation. In the weeks to follow, the residents in the zone between 20 km and 30 km were left with the order to shelter-in-place (See Fig. 1). However, due to a lack of communication from the government, the order was revised to voluntary evacuation. This meant that residents were left with the decision of staying in an area without the necessities for living or return to their homes without knowing the necessary facts about consequences.

Fig. 2: Japan's re-introduction of nuclear power since 2011. [10] (Image source: K. Robinson).

Nuclear Energy in Japan

Since the Fukushima disaster, Japan has embarked on a long road to restoring confidence in its nuclear energy sector. This is evident in the measures taken after the accident, with all operational reactors in Japan that would normally provide about 30% of electricity production systemically taken out of service during scheduled refuelling and maintenance outages. [8] As of August 2023, only 10 of the 33 operable reactors in Japan are back online. [9] To contrast the difference that this disaster made, we can look at Japan's energy consumption per year, with 17.74 exajoules of energy consumed in 2021, and only 0.55 exajoules coming from nuclear energy. [10] Thus, Japan's nuclear energy has dropped to 3.15%, reflecting the clear shift away from nuclear power in the country's energy portfolio. Despite the clear drop in nuclear energy usage within the last decade, the official energy strategy of Japan puts the national reliance on nuclear energy back into focus. [8] This can be seen in the small increases of nuclear energy consumption in Japan every year, with a 42.2% growth rate between 2020 and 2021 (See Fig.2). [10]

Nuclear Energy's Future in Japan

Japan's government aims to increase this nuclear share of electricity generation to 20%-22% by 2030. [11] This goal signifies a significant shift from the decline observed in nuclear energy following the Fukushima disaster, and early stages of this transition are already evident in the gradual increase in nuclear energy consumption in Japan. Ultimately, the decision to increase nuclear energy production underscores Japan's recognition of the pivotal role nuclear power can play in achieving its energy goals. This pursuit, however, is guided by the commitment to safety and accountability, acknowledging the lessons learned from the Fukushima disaster and prioritizing the well-being of both present and future generations. By integrating safety considerations into its energy strategy, Japan can navigate the complexities of nuclear energy expansion while fostering resilience and sustainability in its energy sector.

© Ky Robinson. The author warrants that the work is the author's own and that Stanford University provided no input other than typesetting and referencing guidelines. The author grants permission to copy, distribute and display this work in unaltered form, with attribution to the author, for noncommercial purposes only. All other rights, including commercial rights, are reserved to the author.

References

[1] E. D'Ambrogio, "Japan's 2050 Goal: A Carbon-Neutral Society," European Parliament, September 2021.

[2] A. Trinh, "Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Disaster," Physics 241, Stanford University, Winter 2018.

[3] K. Anzai et al., "Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident: Facts, Environmental Contamination, Possible Biological Effects, and Countermeasures," J. Clin. Biochem. Nutr. 50, 2 (2012).

[4] J. P. Christodouleas et al., "Short-Term and Long-Term Health Risks of Nuclear- Power-Plant Accidents," New Engl. J. Med. 364, 2334 (2011).

[5] T. Tanimoto et al., "Safety of Workers at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant," Lancet 377, 1489 (2011).

[6] B. Wills, "The Fukushima Disaster," Physics 241, Stanford University, Winter 2019/

[7] K. Kurokawa et al., "The Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission: Executive Summary," National Diet of Japan, 2012.

[8] "Uranium 2022: Resources, Production and Demand," Nuclear Energy Agency, No. 7634, 2023.

[9] S. Oda, "Nuclear Power Revival Reaches Japan, Home of the Last Meltdown," Japan Times, 6 Mar 23.

[10] "BP Statistical Review of World Energy," British Petroleum, June 2022.

[11] M. Yamaguchi, "Japan Adopts Plan to Maximize Nuclear Energy, in Major Shift," Associated Press, 22 Dec 22.

[12] A. Ozaki et al., "Breast Cancer Patient Delay in Fukushima, Japan Following the 2011 Triple Disaster: A Long-Term Retrospective Study," BMC Cancer 17, 423 (2017).

[13] C. Leppold et al., "Birth Outcomes After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Disaster: A Long-Term Retrospective Study," Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 14, 542 (2017).