BLOG ENTRY: Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster
BLOG ENTRY: Japanese Nuclear Power Incident
The Fukushima Accident was one of the most high-profile nuclear accidents in recent memory, and restarted the debate on the potential safety threats of aging nuclear reactors worldwide. Following an earthquake, a tsunami disabled power supply/cooling of three Fukushima Daiichi reactors. This caused a nuclear accident, because all three cores melted within three days.
The tsunami countermeasures that were put into place during the construction of the nuclear plant were seen as being satisfactory, given the research and knowledge at the time. However, despite increased awareness of the threat posted to the plant by 2011, action was still not taken by the plant owner (Tepco). Tsunami countermeasures could have been reviewed in accordance to IAEA standards, but the plant operator chose to continue operations as-is.
A more release of radionuclides, including some that are long lived, occurred in March. Much of this was due to a hydrogen explosion in one of the suppression chambers. While radiation has been reduced now, thousands had to be evacuated at the time due to health fears. The image above shows the radiation by the nuclear power plant, and the change in exposure from 2011 to 2012.
While the nuclear operator was criticized for the lack of updates on the facility, the evacuation plans were put together swiftly and implemented in a timely manner. The impact on human life was limited with the response. Above, a WNN image highlights the quick-changing evacuation measures put into place following the nuclear incident.
Moving beyond the disaster, which caused international concern about the future of nuclear energy, Japan has now recently approved the construction of another nuclear power plant. Japan’s nuclear regulatory agency has declared that atomic power plants are safe to operate. The government has stated that new nuclear power plants are subject to increased scrutiny of security protocol, despite concern from the general public about possible health risks in the future. Opponents of the restart said the agency was essentially overriding public opinion. Furthermore, many have asked for more independent agencies to review Japanese nuclear standards.
The restarting of nuclear reactors (one is shown above) in Japan is a reversal of the previous administration’s goal of having zero nuclear power in the near future. The new energy plan, which also calls for less “dependence” on nuclear power, calls for increased utilization of other renewable fuels. Over the next three years, the government will be more heavily supportive of solar and wind power. The energy plan was subject to criticism from political opponents due to what was called a lack of specifics. The plan did not include any percentage targets for how much solar or wind power should be deployed as part of the nation’s energy supply.
The cost of imported fuel into Japan has increased sharply (by almost 4 trillion yen), and this has added political pressure for the government (headed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shown above) to focus on restarting nuclear power plants and decreasing reliance on international trade. The adoption of the new energy policy has been seen as a piece of a larger economic development plan, as the country still struggles to sustain stable economic growth. Growth will be partly fueled by decreasing energy costs, brightening the prospects for nuclear power in the future.
References:
http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/safety-and-security/safety-of-plants/fukushima-accident/
http://www.newscientist.com/special/fukushima-crisis
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