Nuclear Power Policy in Japan and Germany

1. Chou, Tsu-Heng (1M171016-2)2. Adriana Artola (97180006-1)3. Megumi Kiriha (1M150253-0)4. Natsumi Obata (1M170344-9)5. Ra Eun Seok (1M161117-4)

Table of Contents

1. Nuclear Power Electricity in General 2. Fukushima3. Japanese policies4. Germany policies5. Conclusion and future views

Nuclear Power ElectricityNuclear technology was first developed in the 1940s, and during the Second World War research initially focused on producing bombs. In the 1950s attention turned to the peaceful use of nuclear fission, controlling it for power generation.

Nuclear energy originates from the splitting of uranium atoms – a process called fission. This generates heat to produce steam, which is used by a turbine generator to generate electricity. Because nuclear power plants do not burn fuel, they do not produce greenhouse gas emissions.

Uranium-fuelled nuclear power is a clean and efficient way of boiling water to make steam which drives turbine generators. Except for the reactor itself, a nuclear power station works like most coal or gas-fired power stations.

Nuclear Power Electricity

The first commercial nuclear power stations started operation in the 1950s.

Over 15,000 reactor-years of operational experience have been accumulated since the 1950s by the world's 440 nuclear power reactors

Nuclear is the world's second largest source of low-carbon power

50 countries utilise nuclear energy in about 225 research reactors.

About 60 more reactors are under construction, while an additional 150-160 are planned.

Nuclear plants are the lowest-cost provider of large-scale electricity.

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (福島第一原子力

発電所) is a now disabled power plant located in Okuma and Futaba in the Fukushima prefecture. It consisted of six boiling water reactors, which is a type of light water nuclear reactor generated to create electricity. It is also the second most common type of electricity-generating nuclear reactor. These reactors would create a combined power of 4.7 Gigawatts of electricity which made Fukushima Daiichi one of the 15 largest nuclear power plants in the world. It was the first plant to be constructed and run by both General Electric (GE) and Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO).

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear DisasterOn March 11, 2011, an earthquake with the magnitude of 9.0 occurred off the coast of Japan. This earthquake initiated powerful tsunami waves which reached up to heights of 40.5 metres. It was the most-powerful earthquake ever recorded in Japan and the fourth most powerful earthquake in the world since 1990. The tsunami waves caused by the earthquake initiated the nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant, which included multiple hydrogen based explosions in the plant itself. These hydrogen explosions caused the release of radioactive material into the air. This nuclear disaster is regarded as one of the worst since the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Pripyat, Ukraine. 1600 deaths occurred due to the relocation process of 160,000 people. However, there have been no records of fatalities linked to radiation.

Causes and timeline

Prior to the earthquake, reactors 4, 5 and 6 were already shut down due to scheduled maintenance, so the reactors that were the main source of the radiation leakage were units 1, 2, and 3. The first three active units were automatically shut down immediately after the earthquake. Yet, the tsunami disabled the emergency generators that would have controlled and stabilized the pumps necessary to cool down the reactors. This eventually led to three nuclear meltdowns, hydrogen-air explosions, and the release of radioactive material from the timespan of March 11th to March 15th. It was also officially stated that the causes of the accident were foreseeable, and that TEPCO had failed to meet basic safety requirements such as risk assessment, preparing for collateral damage, or even evacuation plans. On October 12th 2011, TEPCO admitted to these statements and released a response stating that they feared that efforts to better protect the nuclear facility from natural disasters would cause antinuclear sentiment, interfere with operations or create litigation risks.

Political dialogue and Views on Nuclear Energy

This disaster eventually initiated discourse on nuclear energy internationally. It was stated by the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency that this disaster caused deep public anxiety throughout the world and damaged confidence in nuclear power. Countries including Germany, France, and Italy planned to either cease or reduce nuclear usage as an energy source. Other nations such as China, the United Kingdom, Russia, India, and South Korea are planning to continue their expansions in nuclear energy.

Nuclear Policy in Japan

<Introductory path>

1953 "Atoms for Peace" by Eisenhower

1954 Research thanks to US while huge uprisings after 第五福竜丸事件

1960s Research-based nuclear power policy

import of natural resources and organization of law

initiated management in 東海, 美浜, 敦賀, 福島.

Nuclear Policy in Japan

<Acceleration of nuclear power policy>

1975 Oil Shock : High dependency on Middle East for oil

1997 Kyoto Protocol : Huge C02 emission for generating fuel power

**********************************

2003 Energy Fundamental Plan

　　　3E (Energy Security, Energy Efficiency, Environment)

54 power plants + new 14 power plants for stable electricity

Nuclear Policy in Japan

<After Fukushima>

Huge Controversy about the use of nuclear power

2012 Innovative energy and environmental strategy No more dependency on nuclear power Safety priority Zero nuclear power by 2030 More Renewable Energy　　　　　　↕�Huge disagreement by industry and powers in politics

2014 Energy Fundamental Plan (DPJ　⇨　LDP in 2012)　　 3E + Safety Nuclear power got regarded as stable and efficient.

Nuclear Policy in Japan

<Current nuclear Power Policy>

Safety is fundamental based on strict criteria for nuclear power

Strategic Recovery from Fukushima leading TRUST

New Stable Resource Procurement for self-efficiency

Sufficient use of Energy and More research on renewable energy for Environment-Friendly by more research

Diversified Resilient Energy sources as Nuclear power would consist 20 percent of all electricity sources. ( 9 nuclear power plants start working after the earthquake)

Nuclear Power Policy in Germany

● In the 1970's: German support for nuclear energy was very strong.

● Similar to France, after the oil price shock of 1974, there was a perception of vulnerability regarding energy supplies. This policy faltered after the Chernobyl accident in 1986. The last new nuclear power plant was commissioned in 1989.

● The Social Democratic Party (SPD) had affirmed nuclear power in 1979. In August 1986 it passed a resolution to abandon nuclear power within ten years.

Nuclear Power Policy in Germany

● October 1998: a coalition government was formed between the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Green Party.

● These two parties agreed to change the law to phase out of nuclear power. The consensus talks with the electric utilities were intended to establish a timetable for nuclear power to phase out. The Greens threatened multilateral curtailment of licenses without compensation if agreement was not reached.→all operating nuclear plants then had unlimited licenses with strong legal guarantees.

Nuclear Power Policy in Germany● September 2010: a new agreement was reached, to give

eight-year license extensions for reactors built before 1980. →All these arrangements were reconsidered in March 2011 when the government declared a three-month moratorium on the nuclear power plan.

● Chancellor Angela Merkel decreed that the nuclear power reactors which began operation in 1980 or earlier should be immediately shut down. This decision was not based on any safety assessment, and did not result in removal of the nuclear fuel tax.

Nuclear Power Policy in Germany

❖ Current Situation● Until March 2011, Germany had obtained one-quarter of its electricity

from nuclear energy, using 17 reactors. After the incident, the figure has dropped to seven reactors and 42% of the electricity comes from coal.

● Public opinion: opposition remains on nuclear power. There is virtually no support for building new nuclear plants.

● An announcement was made by Germany's coalition government concerning the reversal of policy that will see all the country's nuclear power plants phased out by 2022. Chancellor Angela Merkel has set up a panel to review nuclear power following the crisis at Fukushima in Japan.

● Putting more effort in sustainable energy: the renewable share of electricity generation has increased from 5% in 1990 to 25% in the first half of 2012 and is still rapidly increasing.

Comparing Japan and Germany

Pre-Fukushima National Electricity Supply (2011)

Japan Germany

Nuclear Energy 30% 17.7%

Fossil Fuel ↑↑ ↓

Renewable 土 ↑↑

Policy 20-22% by 2030 0% by 2022

Conclusion

● Japan and Germany has had similar environmental policies and future aims● Two polar situations resulting in dissimilarities (post-fukushima)● Net Energy Imports : Japan = 93.02% / Germany = 61.4% ● Fuel Imports : Japan = 18.28% / Germany = 7.15%● Renewable Energy : Japan = 11.41% / Germany = 43.67%● More dependency on fossil fuel, LNG etc. = higher CO2 emission (World 5th)● Aftermath of Fukushima : Safety issues, economical strain● Nuclear Power as a political tool ( LDP / Merkel)● Japan has signed the Paris agreement suggesting they reduce CO2 emission

by 26% (2030) plus former Kyoto protocol

Future Views

● Japan is facing many problems in the post-fukushima structure but slowly moving towards reconsidering nuclear power❖ Unbalanced Energy production (dependency on imported fossil fuel etc.)❖ Safety issue for the public opinion still remains a problem❖ Aftermath of the Fukushima Disaster (economic strain)❖ Disposal of nuclear waste (cost & method)

● It is highly probable that Germany would stick to their current plan for nuclear power phase-out despite of changes to that of Japan

Referenceshttps://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20180509/p2g/00m/0dm/086000c

https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2018/04/japan-slowly-restarting-nuclear-reactors-with-ongoing-financial-and-environmental-costs.html

https://tradingeconomics.com/japan/fossil-fuel-energy-consumption-percent-of-total-wb-data.html

http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-g-n/germany.aspx

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-13592208

http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/nuclear-power-in-the-world-today.aspx

https://www.jaif.or.jp/cms_admin/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/npc2017report-1.pdf

http://www.meti.go.jp/committee/sankoushin/sangyougijutsu/chikyu_kankyo/yakusoku_souan_wg/pdf/001_05_01.pdf

Discussion Questions

1. Why has Japan decided to restart Nuclear Power-plants even after the Fukushima Disaster? (Political? Economical? Environmental? Energy?)

2. If Japan had been able to implement a safe and sustainable nuclear powerplant, (no Fukushima disaster), would Germany’s policy on Nuclear power be different?

Thank You for listening