Japan to cut reliance on nuclear in next energy plan

• 7 years ago (2016-05-27)

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This change in policy is likely to boost the Japanese renewable energy sector, although the same may well also be true of cheaper coal-fired generation.

Following events at Fukushima, and the subsequent shut-down of much of Japan’s nuclear fleet, public resistance has remained strong – something which was notably seen with the widespread criticism of the pro-nuclear industry ministry’s 2015 target of nuclear power to provide around 20 per cent of Japan’s electricity production.

Currently, out of a total of 42 reactors, Japan only has 2 functioning. However, Japan has been moving steadily closer back towards nuclear energy, as it turned its first reactor back on in mid-August.

Tomas Kaberger, energy and environment professor at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, says that the expected cuts to nuclear power will mean higher targets for renewable energy.

"There is a more realistic attitude toward nuclear power taking hold in Japan so it would not surprise me to see a significantly larger role for renewable energy in the next energy plan," Kaberger told Reuters while in Tokyo earlier this week.

Reducing the target for nuclear power will also likely support Japan’s push into coal for power generation, with more than 40 new stations using the dirtiest fuel to come over the next few years.