Japan Restarting Nukes After Fukushima

In 2011, 54 nuclear reactors were providing roughly 30% of Japan’s electricity demand and the government was planning to add more since Japan – aside from renewables – does not have domestic energy resources. All changed in March 2011 when the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station suffered major damage after a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami caused the largest global nuclear accident since the Chernobyl in 1986. The government suspended operation of all the remaining reactors for mandatory safety checks and upgrades with the intention of bringing the safe ones back online.

The suspension of Japan's nuclear fleet after the Fukushima accident had an immediate and substantial impact of Japan’s electricity sector, significantly increasing its dependence on liquefied natural gas (LNG), oil and coal imports to make up for the nuclear’s sudden loss. Partly because of this, Japan is the second biggest importer of LNG after China and the third biggest importer of coal, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Naturally, the government wants to bring as many reactors back online as it possibly can, and the sooner the better.

So far 14 reactors have restarted operations, a slow process since the first two units were restarted in 2015 due to the stringent safety inspection process established after the accident requiring the consent of the local municipalities. Three more units have received regulatory approval to restart but have yet to do so while another 10 units are currently under regulatory review and are expected to be back in service, no one knows exactly when.

In Oct 2021, the government announced its intention to increase the nuclear share of the country’s electricity generation to 20–22% by 2030 from around 6% in 2023 (visual on bottom of page 23). The latest government projections updated in Dec 2024, puts the nuclear share at 20% of Japan’s energy supply in 2040. The current policy intends to maximize the use of existing reactors by restarting as many units as possible while extending their operating licenses beyond the current 60-year limit. Japan, like other nuclear-powered countries also vows to develop next-generation reactors – don’t expect anything soon.

More nuclear reactors are expected to be back in service

Japan’s electricity demand peaked in 2007 with the downward trend accelerating since the 2011 earthquake. There are many explanations for this including serious efforts to save energy as well as energy efficiency investments in all sectors of the economy, decreasing industrial and manufacturing demand amidst a gradually shrinking and aging population.

The government is aiming for 60% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 from the 2013 level and reaching carbon neutrality by 2050. Much more nuclear and renewables will be needed to reach such ambitious targets. Without more nuclear generation, the target will be even harder to reach. 

Cover photo: EIA