NuclearPowerinJapan[日本核能].pdfVIP

Nuclear Power in Japan (updated 24 February 2011) l Japan needs to import some 80% of its energy requirements.  l Its first commercial nuclear power reactor began operating in mid 1966, and nuclear energy has been a national strategic priority since 1973.  l The countrys 54 reactors provide some 30% of the countrys electricity and this is expected to increase to at least 40% by 2017.  l Japan has a full fuel cycle set-up, including enrichment and reprocessing of used fuel for recycle.  Despite being the only country to have suffered the devastating effects of nuclear weapons in wartime, Japan has embraced the peaceful use of nuclear technology to provide a substantial portion of its electricity. Today, nuclear energy accounts for almost 30% of the countrys total electricity production (29% in 2009), from 47.5 GWe of capacity (net). There are plans to increase this to 41% by 2017, and 50% by 2030.   In 2008 Japan generated 1085 billion kWh gross, 30% from coal, 25% from gas, 24% from nuclear, 11% from oil, and 7.5% from hydro, though 8 GWe of nuclear capacity was shut down for checks following an earthquake in mid 2007. Per capita consumption is about 7900 kWh/yr. Demand for 2009 was expected to be 892 billion kWh, with peak 173.4 GWe, requiring capacity of 194 GWe. As Japan has few natural resources of its own, it depends on imports for some 80% of its primary energy needs. Initially it was dependent on fossil fuel imports, particularly oil from the Middle East (oil fuelled 66% of the electricity in 1974). This geographical and commodity vulnerability became critical due to the oil shock in 1973. At this time, Japan already had a growing nuclear industry, with five operating reactors. Re-evaluation of domestic energy policy resulted in diversification and in particular, a major nuclear constructio