Should Japan Continue To Use Nuclear Power?

Group 6:

1)Alfredo Guevara, 2)Yeh Sheng-Hsiung, 3)Goh Hui Koon,

4)Yu-Hui Chen, 5)Jin-Hung Lin

2How Nuclear Plant is Working?

3 Why Japan is using nuclear power?

Japan needs to import about 84% of its energy requirements.

Its first commercial nuclear power reactor began operating in mid-1966, and nuclear energy has been a national strategic priority since 1973. This came under review following the 2011 Fukushima accident but has been confirmed.

4 Advantages of Nuclear Power Nuclear power plants don't require a lot of

spaceThey do not need a large plot like a wind farm. But they have to be built near a large body of water for cooling purposes - using the water as a heat sink. They are usually found on the coast so there is no risk to drinking water sources.

Nuclear power stations do not contribute to carbon emissions, produce smoke particles to pollute the atmosphere or emit gases that contribute to acid rain

Nuclear energy is by far the most concentrated form of energy

Nuclear power is reliable. It does not depend on the weather.

We can control the output from a nuclear power station to fit our needs. Nuclear power produces a small volume of waste (although that waste is radioactive - see below)

5 Disadvantages of Nuclear Power

Disposal of nuclear waste is very expensive.

Decommissioning of nuclear power stations is expensive and takes a long time. (In fact we have not yet decommissioned one!)

Nuclear accidents can spread 'radiation producing particles' over a wide area

6 Nuclear power policy in Japan(2002-2011)

Focus on nuclear

Japan's energy policy has been driven by considerations of energy security and the need to minimize dependence on current imports. The main elements regarding nuclear power were:

nuclear power as a major element of electricity production.

steadily develop fast breeder reactors in order to improve uranium utilization dramatically.

promote nuclear energy to the public, emphasizing safety and non-proliferation.

7 Nuclear Plants In Japan

The country's 50+ main reactors have provided some 30% of the country's electricity and this was expected to increase to at least 40% by 2017.

Currently 43 reactors are operable and potentially able to restart, and 24 of these are in the process of restart approvals ( after Fukushima disaster).

8

9Fukushima disaster (1/2)

Occurring by Tsunami

Evacuation

a prohibited access area out to 3 km

an on-alert area 3–20 km

an evacuation prepared area 20–30 km.

354,000 were evacuated

10 Fukushima disaster (2/2)

11 What has happened since the 2011 tsunami and nuclear meltdowns?

On 11 March, 2011, a massive offshore earthquake triggered a tsunami disrupted cooling systems at the Fukushima Daiichi plant and resulted in fuel and core meltdowns.

Evacuation of more than 100,000 people from surrounding areas

sparked a national debate about nuclear power

caused the shutdown of all 54 of Japan’s nuclear reactors while new regulations and policies were formulated

12 What has happened since the 2011 tsunami and nuclear meltdowns? Public opinion has flipped

＊ 70 percent of respondents poll to end nuclear power

＊ Most Japanese citizens support a plan by the Democratic Party of

Japan, to phase out nuclear power by the 2030s.

The meltdowns’ victims have stayed in the news

Public mistrust toward the government and the nuclear industry remains

district court halts restart of two reactors in blow to nuclear sector

13

An aerial view shows No. 4 (front L), No. 3 (front R), No. 2 (rear L) and No. 1 reactor buildings at Kansai Electric Power Co.'s Takahama nuclear power plant in Takahama town, Fukui prefecture, in this photo taken by Kyodo, November 27, 2014. REUTERS/Kyodo

14

General aerial view of Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO)'s tsunami-crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Fukushima prefecture, taken by Kyodo March 11, 2015. Wednesday marks the fourth year anniversary of the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami that killed thousands and set off a nuclear crisis. REUTERS/Kyodo

15

Protesters raise their fists at a freighter, as it arrives at Kansai Electric Power Co.'s Takahama nuclear power plant in Takahama town, Fukui prefecture, in this photo taken by Kyodo, June 27, 2013. REUTERS/Kyodo

16 The Abe administration is pushing nuclear power

the Liberal Democratic Party under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, released its target nuclear power supply for 2030

The government’s new energy-mix targets for 2030 call for nuclear power to provide about 20 percent of electricity which translates to about 29 reactors.

Twenty-four of Japan’s 43 operable reactors have applied for restart since the Nuclear Regulation Authority(NRA) began accepting applications in July 2013.

17 The Abe administration is pushing nuclear power

Pro-nuclear advocates offer several justifications Japan’s increased use of imported fossil fuels while the

nuclear reactors are shut down. meet the country’s commitment to the Kyoto Protocol

and the goals of lowering carbon dioxide emissions. achieving energy supply security and keeping electricity

costs low for corporations. Business organizations such as Keidanren have

supported the nuclear restarts.

18 Will nuclear power return?

If the Liberal Democratic Party intends to achieve the nuclear power goal It must work to rebuild trust in it and Tokyo

Electric Power Company (Tepco) mitigate the anger among many Japanese about

the decades of promises made about the safety of nuclear power

resolve extensive technical challenges it will face cleanup and decommissioning.

19

Thank You

20 After Fukushima disaster (2011)….

Japan has just announced plans to phase out nuclear power by 2040.  The announcement was made by issuing a "policy goal", which is not binding on future governments and which a new government administration could reverse.

The new energy policy aims to

shut down reactors that are more than 40 years old,

not issue new licenses for reactor construction

restart existing reactors only if they pass standards issued by the new Nuclear Regulatory Agency

introduced for solar and wind power

green energy policy framework