At a discussion on post-Fukushima energy policy of Japan and the role of nuclear power at Columbia University, former International Energy Agency executive director Nobuo Tanaka outlined Japan's journey back to nuclear power and its potential to become the world leader on new nuclear technology. Tanaka, a distinguished fellow of Columbia's Center for Global Energy Policy, explained that the nuclear accident in Fukushima was completely avoidable and attributed the root cause to human error.
Important lessons have been learned, though. The Japanese have conducted a thorough safety review of their nuclear plants and are working closely with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to help ensure world-class safety standards.
Three years after the tsunami and earthquake that rocked Japan, the country faces the prospect of imminent blackouts this summer given the lack of access to affordable, reliable energy. According to the IEA, Japan's energy import costs increased from around JPY 3.5 trillion a year to around JPY 6.2 trillion between 2010 and 2012. Tanaka indicated that Japan's high reliance on costly imported fossil fuels is having a devastating impact on its global competitiveness, forcing much of its manufacturing base to relocate to other areas causing major job losses.
Information from the IEA showed that the United States' winter cold snap exacerbated Japan's energy problem. Increased demand for natural gas in the U.S. took supply away, consequently driving up the price of the commodity and utility bills. Tanaka presented a few options that Japan is evaluating as part of its long-term energy strategy. One is to build a pipeline tapping into natural gas supply from Russia. Another is to restart at least 17 nuclear reactors, with two potentially coming back online this summer on an emergency reliability basis. He added that energy efficiency/renewables have not filled the void and importing fossil fuels is simply unsustainable in terms of cost and climate.
The boldest proposition was his challenge to Japan to partner with the United States and South Korea on developing and implementing new nuclear technology featured in Pandora's Promise, the award-winning documentary on leading environmentalists who have come to embrace nuclear power as a necessary part of our energy and climate future. The Integral Fast Reactor (IFR) and pyroprocessing represent revolutionary improvements in new nuclear generation.
Tanaka noted that the IFR provides an inexhaustible supply of energy, contains inherent passive safety mechanisms, and offers a long-term waste management system. Compared to lead from batteries, which does not decay, or toxic emissions dumped into the biosphere, nuclear waste management is one the safest and most sensible approaches Tanaka argued.
Being held hostage to foreign energy sources is a terrible energy plan. Fuel diversity involving all forms of energy is essential for price stability as well as for preserving a reliable flow of and access to affordable energy. "Japan has been through a lot, especially with nuclear," said Tanaka, "but they must reclaim leadership of the peaceful use of new nuclear power for a sustainable future."
After a hard look at the facts, I agree with Tanaka and his colleagues who are calling on others to stick with nuclear.
Important lessons have been learned, though. The Japanese have conducted a thorough safety review of their nuclear plants and are working closely with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to help ensure world-class safety standards.
Three years after the tsunami and earthquake that rocked Japan, the country faces the prospect of imminent blackouts this summer given the lack of access to affordable, reliable energy. According to the IEA, Japan's energy import costs increased from around JPY 3.5 trillion a year to around JPY 6.2 trillion between 2010 and 2012. Tanaka indicated that Japan's high reliance on costly imported fossil fuels is having a devastating impact on its global competitiveness, forcing much of its manufacturing base to relocate to other areas causing major job losses.
Information from the IEA showed that the United States' winter cold snap exacerbated Japan's energy problem. Increased demand for natural gas in the U.S. took supply away, consequently driving up the price of the commodity and utility bills. Tanaka presented a few options that Japan is evaluating as part of its long-term energy strategy. One is to build a pipeline tapping into natural gas supply from Russia. Another is to restart at least 17 nuclear reactors, with two potentially coming back online this summer on an emergency reliability basis. He added that energy efficiency/renewables have not filled the void and importing fossil fuels is simply unsustainable in terms of cost and climate.
The boldest proposition was his challenge to Japan to partner with the United States and South Korea on developing and implementing new nuclear technology featured in Pandora's Promise, the award-winning documentary on leading environmentalists who have come to embrace nuclear power as a necessary part of our energy and climate future. The Integral Fast Reactor (IFR) and pyroprocessing represent revolutionary improvements in new nuclear generation.
Tanaka noted that the IFR provides an inexhaustible supply of energy, contains inherent passive safety mechanisms, and offers a long-term waste management system. Compared to lead from batteries, which does not decay, or toxic emissions dumped into the biosphere, nuclear waste management is one the safest and most sensible approaches Tanaka argued.
Being held hostage to foreign energy sources is a terrible energy plan. Fuel diversity involving all forms of energy is essential for price stability as well as for preserving a reliable flow of and access to affordable energy. "Japan has been through a lot, especially with nuclear," said Tanaka, "but they must reclaim leadership of the peaceful use of new nuclear power for a sustainable future."
After a hard look at the facts, I agree with Tanaka and his colleagues who are calling on others to stick with nuclear.