How to manage without nukes

May 7, 2012

Editorial: Seek a way out of reliance on nuclear power

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/perspectives/news/20120507p2a00m0na006000c.html

Energy is a matter of life or death for a nation. As such, nuclear power has been an important source of energy for many countries. However, one cannot help but doubt whether Japan really needed so many nuclear power stations as all such plants have now been stopped.

Japan has still not achieved a society without nuclear power plants. It is of great significance for us to experience a society that does not use nuclear power and to consider Japan's future energy situation. We should take this opportunity to prepare to change Japan's energy policy while looking back on the country's history of nuclear power.

Japan's first commercial nuclear power station began operations in 1966. Japan's first light-water nuclear reactor for commercial use transmitted power to the site of the opening ceremony for Expo 1970 in Osaka Prefecture. The number of nuclear reactors in the country has since steadily increased and reached 55 in 2006.

Over that period, however, the world has witnessed serious nuclear accidents -- the Three Mile Island accident in 1979 and the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. A critical nuclear accident at a nuclear fuel processing plant in Tokai, Ibaraki Prefecture, in 1999 and the Niigata Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake in 2007 that hit an area where a nuclear plant is located sounded an alarm about the risks of earthquakes and radiation.

Nevertheless, Japan did not change its dependence on nuclear energy. Far from it, there were moves to avoid a situation in which none of Japan's nuclear reactors would be in operation after the outbreak of the crisis at the tsunami-hit Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant. Despite such moves, all of Japan's nuclear reactors have been suspended, highlighting the public's strong will.

As many as 70 percent of respondents to an opinion poll that the Mainichi Shimbun conducted in September last year called for a quick or gradual decrease in the number of nuclear plants. The government must not ignore the public's hope to break Japan's dependence on nuclear plants.

In the short term, Japan may face tough choices between the risks of power shortages and those of nuclear accidents.

However, the government has announced that Japan will pursue a society without nuclear power stations under its policy of decreasing Japan's reliance on nuclear power and decommissioning nuclear reactors that have been in operation for 40 years. Therefore, the government should take this opportunity to map out a strategy of finding a way out of its reliance on nuclear power.

First, the government should show a road map toward decreasing its reliance on nuclear plants. To that end, the government should assess the risks of all nuclear power stations across the country based on new standards that will be worked out by a new nuclear energy regulatory body. It should assess risks involving the location such as a fault fracture zone recently found just below the Tsuruga Nuclear Power Plant in Fukui Prefecture, and decommission dangerous plants.

Funds and human resources used for the construction of new nuclear plants and the nuclear fuel recycle project should be diverted to the disposal of spent nuclear fuel and the decommissioning of reactors so that Japan can lead the world in the nuclear reactor dismantling business.

All countries that have introduced nuclear plants face problems involving the disposal of radioactive waste with no exception. This is a technological and political challenge that most countries that possess such power stations have failed to tackle without future prospects. Whether Japan can take the lead in working on the matter is of great significance to the international community.

The government is required to map out an energy policy that will not adversely affect people's daily lives and industrial activity to prepare for a society without nuclear power stations. To that end, saving energy is indispensable.

In particular, it is essential to substantially reduce electric power consumption during periods of peak demand for electricity. If power consumption over several hours in the afternoons of summer -- when air conditioners are in full operation -- is regulated, it will produce a leeway in energy supply and demand, making it unnecessary for utilities to invest a massive amount of funds in plants and equipment.

It is an urgent task to introduce a fare structure that will encourage consumers to save electric power during hours of peak demand and a system under which utilities would buy saved power, as well as to spread so-called smart meters to allow consumers to check their power consumption and rates at all times.

It has been long believed that nuclear plants contribute to the energy security policy because their fuel is less expensive, it emits little carbon dioxide, and uranium used as fuel can be stockpiled for many years. What have been regarded as advantages of nuclear power should be taken into account in considering new power sources even though questions have been raised over these advantages.

The introduction of renewable energy such as solar, wind and geothermal power is an urgent task from the viewpoint of preventing global warming and contributing to energy security. A key to the introduction of such eco-friendly energy is a system under which utilities buy electric power generated with such energy sources at fixed prices. The government is scheduled to introduce this system in July.

The prices at which utilities are required to buy such power, which has been recently released by an expert government panel, will allow the businesses to make profits from buying environment-friendly energy and is expected to help spread renewable energy. It will also result in an increase in electricity rates for each family by 70 to 100 yen a month, according to an estimate made by the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry.

As the amount of renewable energy rises, it will increase the burden on consumers and businesses, and could adversely affect the domestic industry's international competitiveness. In Germany, a developed country in the spread of renewable energy, power suppliers were forced to lower their charges this spring in response to protests from the public. It is important to pursue a well-balanced fare structure while trying to win the public's understanding.

To reduce the prices of renewable energy, it is essential to ease regulations that are responsible for high costs. In April, the Cabinet of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda approved 103-point deregulation measures, such as lifting a ban on the construction of geothermal power generators on the premises of national parks. It should promptly implement these steps.

Still, it will take a long time before renewable energy is widespread. Japan has no choice but to rely heavily on thermal power for the time being. Utilities are urged to introduce thermal power generators using natural gas, which emits a relatively low amount of carbon dioxide, as well as combined cycle power generators.

It is necessary to spur competition between power suppliers in order to lower electricity fares. The government has come under mounting pressure to completely liberalize the wholesale selling of electric power and abolish power suppliers' regional monopoly.