Japan Halts Nuclear Reactor Commencement while United States intensifies Nuclear Energy Utilization
With global warming intensifying and the escalating expense of burning fossil fuels to maintain power supplies, the world is increasingly looking towards nuclear energy as an alternative. Renewable sources like solar and wind are fantastic, but they fail to deliver the same financial gains as nuclear energy.
Nuclear power can be a valuable provider of clean energy, however, it also carries inherent risks. Japan, with its history of dealing with nuclear power plant hazards, is acutely aware of these dangers. In 2011, a power plant in Fukushima suffered a meltdown following an earthquake, triggering extensive regulatory reforms in the industry.
Recently, Japanese nuclear safety regulators exercised their authority for the first time, preventing a reactor from entering service due to safety concerns. The Tsuruga Reactor No. 2 was deemed unsafe due to its location on too many fault lines and the inadequate addressal of regulatory safety issues by the responsible company. The decision was made after an eight-year investigation of the site.
Despite its cautious approach to nuclear energy, Japan announced in 2022 a plan to accelerate its use. This strategy includes the utilization of nuclear power plants to help the country achieve its goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Japan has more than 50 commercial reactors in operation, with 27 seeking to resume operations. Only 17 of these have been approved by the regulatory authority.
Similarly, the U.S. is also planning to use nuclear energy to meet its net zero carbon emissions goal by 2050. The Department of Energy (DoE) released a statement outlining a preliminary plan to achieve this.
According to the DoE's estimates, nuclear energy is currently the largest source of clean power in the United States, preventing more than 470 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, equivalent to taking 100 million cars off the road. In order to reach net zero emissions by 2050, the U.S. will require an additional 200 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power capacity.
A single nuclear reactor typically produces around 1 gigawatt of electricity. Achieving 200 GW would necessitate the construction of a substantial number of new nuclear reactors. The DoE plans to add 35 GW of new capacity by 2035 and maintain a yearly expansion rate of 15 GW from 2040 onwards to stay on track for its ultimate goal.
Technology giants like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon are fully invested in nuclear energy due to the energy demands of data centers and AI. Microsoft is investing millions to bring Three Mile Island back online. All three companies are backing various types of new reactors, such as small modular ones.
The DoE believes a combination of new technology and the enhancement of capacity at existing plants can help the U.S. achieve its net zero goal. "Preliminary research from our office shows that a majority of our nuclear power plants could potentially host up to 60 GW of new capacity by building large-scale light water reactors like the AP1000s," the DoE stated. "This number could rise to 95 GW if sites capable of hosting small modular reactors are considered."
The DoE has also suggested the possibility of transforming fossil fuel-burning coal plants into nuclear energy sites. This would provide a significant amount of energy and create jobs in communities affected by the transition towards more sustainable energy sources. "The study also found that an additional 128 to 174 GW of new capacity could potentially be built near U.S. coal plants, depending on the reactor type, including small modular reactors," the DoE added.
The tech giants Microsoft, Google, and Amazon are heavily invested in nuclear energy, recognizing its potential to meet the immense energy demands of data centers and artificial intelligence. In the future, advanced technology, such as small modular reactors, could significantly increase the capacity of existing nuclear power plants in the United States, according to the Department of Energy.
