Japan’s Nuclear Revival: Powering AI and a Greener Future

TL;DR:

• Japan is restarting nuclear power plants to reduce coal dependency and meet climate goals.
• The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant has new safety measures, including a 15-meter tsunami wall.
• Nuclear power is essential for Japan’s plans to expand AI data centers.
• Japan aims to increase nuclear power to 20-22% of its electricity mix by 2030.

The Nuclear Comeback

Japan is making a significant shift back to nuclear power. After the 2011 Fukushima disaster, the country shut down all its nuclear reactors. However, with climate change concerns and the need to power energy-hungry AI data centers, Japan is now reconsidering its stance on nuclear energy.

Safety First

At the heart of this revival is the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant in Niigata Prefecture. The plant has undergone extensive upgrades to prevent another Fukushima-like disaster. These include a 15-meter tsunami wall, backup power supply vehicles, and a new vent to filter out radioactive particles.

Masaki Daito, the plant’s deputy superintendent, believes these measures can prevent a similar accident. He told AFP, “We believe that a similar accident to Fukushima could be largely avoided. Japan now has the strictest (regulatory) standards in the world.”

The Energy Dilemma

Before the Fukushima disaster, nuclear power generated about a third of Japan’s electricity. Post-Fukushima, Japan increased imports of natural gas, coal, and oil to keep the lights on. However, this has not only been expensive but has also hindered Japan’s decarbonization efforts.

The E3G think-tank ranks Japan last among G7 nations in decarbonizing their power systems. Hanna Hakko, an energy expert at E3G, believes Japan could aim for renewables to generate 70-80% of its power by 2035. However, even in this scenario, the remainder would need to be covered by gas and nuclear energy.

The AI Factor

Japan’s ambitions in AI are another driving force behind the nuclear revival. AI data centers require vast amounts of energy, and nuclear power could provide a stable, low-emission source.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba acknowledged this, stating, “Obviously, nuclear energy needs to be utilized.”

The Public’s Concern

Despite these plans, the memory of Fukushima still looms large. Many Japanese, like Mototsugu Oki, remain skeptical about nuclear power. “It is operated by human beings, and human beings naturally make mistakes,” he told AFP.

Moreover, making Fukushima fully safe is a monumental task. Engineers are still grappling with how to handle highly radioactive fuel and rubble.

The Path Ahead

Japan aims to increase nuclear power to 20-22% of its electricity mix by 2030. Nine reactors are currently online, with more set to join once they receive local approval.

However, the process is slow due to tougher safety rules. One restart was recently blocked because of earthquake risk.

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