The Fukushima nuclear crisis has given Japan pause for thought on its nuclear future and reports indicate the Japanese government is considering making it mandatory for all new buildings and homes to have solar power systems installed.
Various media outlets are reporting the plan may be announced this week Prime Minister Naoto Kan at a G8 summit in France.
Prior to the Fukushima incident, over half of Japan’s electricity supply was to be sourced from nuclear power stations by 2030 and 20% from renewable energy. However, earlier this month Prime Minister Kan announced the nation’s plan would be reviewed with an increased focus on renewables such as solar power and wind energy.
Nuclear supporters and lobbyists may be unable to reverse the technology’s ailing fortunes in Japan no matter how much they throw at the issue as the Fukushima emergency continues to hit the headlines almost daily with disturbing developments.
Fukushima plant operators, TEPCO, last week admitted fuel rods in reactor unit 1 probably melted down very soon after the quake and in the last 24 hours have said another two reactor units at the facility likely also went into meltdown soon after the earthquake. All 6 units of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station have been shut down.
Perhaps seeing the writing on the wall, Japanese corporate giant Toshiba has announced it will increase its push into renewable energy and wind back its sales efforts in the nuclear power sector.
Toshiba company president Norio Sasaki has been quoted as saying, “If everyone around the world is against nuclear power, there is no point in us saying it is a pillar of our strategy.”
The impact of Fukushima, a level 7 incident on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale, on the global nuclear industry has extended far beyond Japan’s shores. A recent report from the WorldWatch Institute says the industry was “arguably on life support before Fukushima” and that “Fukushima is likely to begin its final chapter”.
