Switching to renewable energy would allow Japan to permanently shut down all its nuclear power stations by 2012 while maintaining economic growth and meeting its carbon dioxide emission reduction goals, according to a new report from Greenpeace International.
The "Advanced Energy [R]evolution Report for Japan" outlines a plan for the country still reeling from the impact of March’s disastrous tsunami that caused a meltdown at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant, to institute national energy efficiency standards and dramatically ramp up production of wind and solar energy resources.
According to the report, Japan is well placed to win the "no nuclear challenge," with only 12 of the nation’s 54 nuclear plants online during peak summer months and extensive energy efficiency measures already in place. Applying power load reduction strategies would reduce energy demand by 11,000 megawatts (MW), equal to the capacity of 10 to 12 nuclear reactors.
Under the plan, solar power and wind energy generation would increase substantially, from an existing 3,500MW to 47,200MW by 2015. This would equate to erecting around 1000 wind turbines per year. In urban centres, solar panels would cover facades of buildings, along with solar hot water systems for household, and "mega solar power stations" would supply utility-scale power to cities.
Greenpeace cites overwhelming public support for an end to nuclear power because of safety fears after the Fukushima disaster, and disagrees with Prime Minister Yoshihoko Noda’s claim that the nuclear industry is too valuable to Japan’s teetering economy to put at risk.
"Under the Advanced Energy [R]evolution scenario energy sector jobs would triple by 2015, reaching 326,000 compared to projections of 81,500 for a business-as-usual approach," the report states.
“The tremendous potential of Japan’s renewable energy industry not only allows it to retire its existing nuclear plants, but provides a huge opportunity to boost the economy by creating thousands of green jobs,” said Sven Teske, Greenpeace International Renewable Energy Campaign Director.
"Advanced Energy [R]evolution Report for Japan" can be be viewed in full here (PDF).
