When the magnitude 9.0 megathrust earthquake hit the
Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in March of 2011, massive amounts of radioactivity
were released into the environment, causing a long-lasting threat to the
community and the eco-system, and signing the death sentence for
Japan's nuclear power industry.
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| Photo courtesy of Voice of America / Wikipedia. |
Eighteen months later, Japan has made the decision to dismiss nuclear power as a source of energy ("Japanese Cabinet Panel Decides to Phase Out Nuclear Power", 14 September 2012, by Dennis Normile, www.sciencemag.org), with a phased plan to stop all kinds of nuclear activity by 2030. This change of direction could not be more radical, since "an energy plan adopted in 2010 called for boosting reliance on nuclear
power from about 30% to 45% of generating capacity by mid-century". This may present a safer scenario in the event of another catastrophe, but it is also a big step-back in the path to a cleaner, more energy-independent nation.
Sun, wind and water are clean sources of power but offer rather small energy outputs. Plus, they present all kinds of technical and geographical limitations. Nuclear power is, by far, the most efficient source of energy in the world. Its environmental impact is very small compared with the sustained damage caused by other sources of energy such as oil-based fuels. But even with the highest safety standards, a natural disaster, a war or plant
malfunction can cause an enormous impact on nearby populations and the
environment.
It seems Japan has made a very quick and conservative move, with the memory of last year's earthquake still fresh in the people's mind. It will now face the challenge to be energy-sufficient in the long term.
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