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[[File:Fukushima I by Digital Globe crop.jpg|thumb|The 2011 [[Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster]], the worst [[nuclear accident]] in 25 years, displaced 50,000 households after [[radiation]] leaked into the air, soil and sea.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-26/fukushima-retiree-to-lead-anti-nuclear-motion.html |title=Fukushima Retiree Leads Anti-Nuclear Shareholders at Tepco Annual Meeting |author=Tomoko Yamazaki and Shunichi Ozasa |date=June 27, 2011 |work=Bloomberg }}</ref> Radiation checks led to bans of some shipments of vegetables and fish.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/07/us-japan-nuclear-idUSTRE74610J20110507 |title=Japan anti-nuclear protesters rally after PM call to close plant |author=Mari Saito |date=May 7, 2011 |work=Reuters }}</ref>]]
{{Main| Energy in Japan}}
{{Main| Energy in Japan}}
The '''[[electric power industry]] in Japan''' covers the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of [[electric energy]] in [[Japan]].
The '''[[electric power industry]] in Japan''' covers the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of [[electric energy]] in [[Japan]].
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===Nuclear power===
===Nuclear power===
[[File:Anti-Nuclear Power Plant Rally on &nbsp;19&nbsp;September&nbsp;2011 at Meiji Shrine Outer Garden 03.JPG|thumb|Anti-Nuclear Power Plant Rally on 19 September 2011 at [[Meiji Shrine]] complex in Tokyo.]]
⚫
[[File:Fukushima I by Digital Globe crop.jpg|thumb|The 2011 [[Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster]], the worst [[nuclear accident]] in 25 years, displaced 50,000 households after [[radiation]] leaked into the air, soil and sea.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-26/fukushima-retiree-to-lead-anti-nuclear-motion.html |title=Fukushima Retiree Leads Anti-Nuclear Shareholders at Tepco Annual Meeting |author=Tomoko Yamazaki and Shunichi Ozasa |date=June 27, 2011 |work=Bloomberg }}</ref> Radiation checks led to bans of some shipments of vegetables and fish.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/07/us-japan-nuclear-idUSTRE74610J20110507 |title=Japan anti-nuclear protesters rally after PM call to close plant |author=Mari Saito |date=May 7, 2011 |work=Reuters }}</ref>]]
{{See also | Nuclear power in Japan|2011 Japanese nuclear accidents|Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster}}
{{See also | Nuclear power in Japan|2011 Japanese nuclear accidents|Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster}}


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In 2008 7.7% of Japan's electricity was produced from [[hydro power]].<ref name=IEA2010>[http://www.iea.org/textbase/nppdf/free/2010/key_stats_2010.pdf IEA Key stats 2010] pages 19 and 27</ref> Japan produced 83 TWh of hydro power with 47 GW capacity and ranked 9th in the world, producing 2.5% of the world's total hydro electricity.
In 2008 7.7% of Japan's electricity was produced from [[hydro power]].<ref name=IEA2010>[http://www.iea.org/textbase/nppdf/free/2010/key_stats_2010.pdf IEA Key stats 2010] pages 19 and 27</ref> Japan produced 83 TWh of hydro power with 47 GW capacity and ranked 9th in the world, producing 2.5% of the world's total hydro electricity.


===Other===
===Other renewables===
The Japanese government announced in May 2011 a goal of producing 20% of the nation's electricity from renewable sources, including solar, wind, and biomass, by the early 2020s.<ref>Bird, Winifred, "[http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20110724x8.html Distribution gridlock restricts renewables]", ''[[Japan Times]]'', 24 July 2011, p. 8.</ref>
The Japanese government announced in May 2011 a goal of producing 20% of the nation's electricity from renewable sources, including solar, wind, and biomass, by the early 2020s.<ref>Bird, Winifred, "[http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20110724x8.html Distribution gridlock restricts renewables]", ''[[Japan Times]]'', 24 July 2011, p. 8.</ref>

Citing the Fukushima nuclear disaster, environmental activists at the [[2010 United Nations Climate Change Conference]] urged bolder steps to tap renewable energy so the world doesn't have to choose between the dangers of nuclear power and the ravages of climate change.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/9582305 |title= Activists call for renewable energy at UN meeting |author=Denis Gray |date=April 6 2011 |work=The Guardian }}</ref>

[[Benjamin K. Sovacool]] has said that, with the benefit of hindsight, the Fukushima disaster was entirely avoidable in that Japan could have chosen to exploit the country's extensive [[renewable energy]] base. Japan has a total of "324&nbsp;GW of achievable potential in the form of onshore and offshore [[wind turbine]]s (222&nbsp;GW), [[geothermal power]] plants (70 &nbsp;GW), additional hydroelectric capacity (26.5&nbsp;GW), solar energy (4.8&nbsp;GW) and agricultural residue (1.1&nbsp;GW)."<ref name="bks2011"/>

One result of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster could be renewed public support for the [[Renewable energy commercialization|commercialization of renewable energy technologies]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2011/0503/Japan-s-nuclear-energy-debate-some-see-spur-for-a-renewable-revolution |title=Japan's nuclear energy debate: some see spur for a renewable revolution |author=Justin McCurry |date=3 May 2011 |work=CSMonitor }}</ref> In August 2011, the Japanese Government passed a bill to subsidize electricity from renewable energy sources. The legislation will become effective on 1 July 2012, and require utilities to buy electricity generated by renewable sources including [[solar power]], [[wind power]] and [[geothermal energy]] at above-market rates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-26/japan-passes-renewable-energy-bill-one-precondition-of-kan-s-resignation.html |title=Japan Spurs Solar, Wind Energy With Subsidies, in Shift From Nuclear Power |author=Chisaki Watanabe |date=26 August 2011 |work=Bloomberg }}</ref>

{{as of|2011|09}}, Japan plans to build a pilot [[Floating wind turbine|floating wind farm]], with six 2-megawatt turbines, off the [[Fukushima Prefecture|Fukushima coast]].<ref name="bb20110916"/> After the evaluation phase is complete in 2016, "Japan plans to build as many as 80 floating wind turbines off Fukushima by 2020."<ref name=bb20110916/>


==Power stations==
==Power stations==

Revision as of 03:15, 17 January 2012

The 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, the worst nuclear accident in 25 years, displaced 50,000 households after radiation leaked into the air, soil and sea.[1] Radiation checks led to bans of some shipments of vegetables and fish.[2]
Main article: Energy in Japan

The electric power industry in Japan covers the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electric energy in Japan.

Consumption

In 2008, Japan consumed an average of 8507 kWh/person of electricity. That was 115% of the EU15 average of 7409 kWh/person and 95% of the OECD average of 8991 kWh/person.[3]

Electricity per person in Japan (kWh/ hab.)[3]
Use Production Import Imp. % Fossil Nuclear Nuc. % Other RE Bio+waste* Wind Non RE use* RE %
2004 8,459 8,459 0 5,257 2,212 26.1% 844 146 7,469 11.7%
2005 8,633 8,633 0 5,378 2,387 27.6% 715 153 7,765 10.1%
2006 9,042 9,042 0 6,105 2,066 22.8% 716 154 8,171 9.6%
2008 8,507 8,507 0 5,669 2 010 23.6% 682 147 7,679 9.7%
2009 8,169 8,169 0 5,178 2,198 26.9% 637* 128 27* 7,377 9.7%
* Other RE is waterpower, solar and geothermal electricity and wind power until 2008
* Non RE use = use – production of renewable electricity
* RE % = (production of RE / use) * 100% Note: European Union calculates the share of renewable energies in gross electrical consumption.

Compared with other nations, electricity in Japan is relatively expensive.[4]

Transmission

Map of Japan's electricity transmission network, showing differing systems between regions

Electricity transmission in Japan is unusual because the country is divided for historical reasons into two regions each running at a different mains frequency.

Eastern Japan (including Tokyo, Kawasaki, Sapporo, Yokohama, and Sendai) runs at 50 Hz; Western Japan (including Okinawa, Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nagoya, Hiroshima) runs at 60 Hz. This originates from the first purchases of generators from AEG for Tokyo in 1895 and from General Electric for Osaka in 1896.[5][6]

This frequency difference partitions Japan's national grid, so that power can only be moved between the two parts of the grid using frequency converters, or HVDC transmission lines. The boundary between the two regions contains four back-to-back HVDC substations which convert the frequency; these are Shin Shinano, Sakuma Dam, Minami-Fukumitsu, and the Higashi-Shimizu Frequency Converter.[citation needed]

The limitations of these links has been a major problem in providing power to the areas of Japan affected by the Fukushima nuclear accidents.[5]

Mode of production

In 2009 (2008) the power sources for electric energy were 27 (27) % from coal, 27 (26) % gas, 9 (13) % from oil, 27 (24) % from nuclear power, and 8 (8) % from hydro power.)[7]

Gross production of electricity by power source in Japan (TWh)[7]
Production Coal Gas Oil Nuclear Hydro Other
2004 1,071 294 244 133 282 94 24
2008 1,075 288 283 139 258 83 24
2009 1,041 279 285 92 280 82 23
2009 100 % 26.8 % 27.4 % 8.8 % 26.9 % 7.9 % 2.2 %

According to the IEA the Japan gross production of electricity was 1,071 TWh in 2004 and 1,041 TWh in 2009, making it the third largest producer of electricity in 2009. Japan produced 5.2% of the world's electricity in that year. Top ten electricity producers share was 67 % in 2009 following: United States 20.8 %, People’s Rep. of China 18.4 %*, Japan 5.2 %, Russia 4.9 %, India 4.5 %, Canada 3.0 %, Germany 2.9 %, France 2.7 %, Brazil 2.3 % and Korea 2.3%.[7][8]

Nuclear power

Anti-Nuclear Power Plant Rally on 19 September 2011 at Meiji Shrine complex in Tokyo.
See also: Nuclear power in Japan, 2011 Japanese nuclear accidents, and Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster

Nuclear energy was a national strategic priority in Japan, but there has been concern about the ability of Japan's nuclear plants to withstand seismic activity. The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant was completely shut down for 21 months following an earthquake in 2007.

Following an earthquake, tsunami, and the failure of cooling systems at the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant on March 11, 2011, a nuclear emergency was declared. This was the first time a nuclear emergency had been declared in Japan, and 140,000 residents within 20 km of the plant were evacuated. The total amount of radioactive material released is unclear, as the crisis is ongoing.[9]

On 6 May 2011, Prime Minister Naoto Kan ordered the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant be shut down as an earthquake of magnitude 8.0 or higher is likely to hit the area within the next 30 years.[10][11][12] Kan wanted to avoid a possible repeat of the Fukushima disaster.[13] On 9 May 2011, Chubu Electric decided to comply with the government request. Kan later called for a new energy policy with less reliance on nuclear power.[14]

As of October 2011, only 11 nuclear power plants are operating. There have been electricity shortages, but Japan survived the summer without the extensive blackouts that had been predicted.[15][16][17] An energy white paper, approved by the Japanese Cabinet in October 2011, says "public confidence in safety of nuclear power was greatly damaged" by the Fukushima disaster, and calls for a reduction in the nation’s reliance on nuclear power.[18]

Hydro power

In 2008 7.7% of Japan's electricity was produced from hydro power.[19] Japan produced 83 TWh of hydro power with 47 GW capacity and ranked 9th in the world, producing 2.5% of the world's total hydro electricity.

Other renewables

The Japanese government announced in May 2011 a goal of producing 20% of the nation's electricity from renewable sources, including solar, wind, and biomass, by the early 2020s.[20]

Citing the Fukushima nuclear disaster, environmental activists at the 2010 United Nations Climate Change Conference urged bolder steps to tap renewable energy so the world doesn't have to choose between the dangers of nuclear power and the ravages of climate change.[21]

Benjamin K. Sovacool has said that, with the benefit of hindsight, the Fukushima disaster was entirely avoidable in that Japan could have chosen to exploit the country's extensive renewable energy base. Japan has a total of "324 GW of achievable potential in the form of onshore and offshore wind turbines (222 GW), geothermal power plants (70  GW), additional hydroelectric capacity (26.5 GW), solar energy (4.8 GW) and agricultural residue (1.1 GW)."[22]

One result of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster could be renewed public support for the commercialization of renewable energy technologies.[23] In August 2011, the Japanese Government passed a bill to subsidize electricity from renewable energy sources. The legislation will become effective on 1 July 2012, and require utilities to buy electricity generated by renewable sources including solar power, wind power and geothermal energy at above-market rates.[24]

As of September 2011, Japan plans to build a pilot floating wind farm, with six 2-megawatt turbines, off the Fukushima coast.[25] After the evaluation phase is complete in 2016, "Japan plans to build as many as 80 floating wind turbines off Fukushima by 2020."[25]

Power stations

See also: List of power stations in Japan

See also

References

  1. ^ Tomoko Yamazaki and Shunichi Ozasa (June 27, 2011). "Fukushima Retiree Leads Anti-Nuclear Shareholders at Tepco Annual Meeting". Bloomberg.
  2. ^ Mari Saito (May 7, 2011). "Japan anti-nuclear protesters rally after PM call to close plant". Reuters.
  3. ^ a b Energy in Sweden, Facts and figures, The Swedish Energy Agency, (in Swedish: Energiläget i siffror), Table: Specific electricity production per inhabitant with breakdown by power source (kWh/person), Source: IEA/OECD 2006 T23, 2007 T25, 2008 T26, 2009 T25 and 2010 T49.
  4. ^ Nagata, Kazuaki, "Utilities have monopoly on power", Japan Times, 6 September 2011, p. 3.
  5. ^ a b A legacy from the 1800s leaves Tokyo facing blackouts, ITworld, March 18, 2011
  6. ^ Gordenker, Alice, "Japan's incompatible power grids", Japan Times, 19 July 2011, p. 9.
  7. ^ a b c IEA Key World Energy Statistics 2011, 2010, 2009, 2006 IEA October, pages electricity 27 gas 13,25 fossil 25 nuclear 17, *Note = People’s Rep. of China exclude Hong Kong Cite error: The named reference "keysta" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  8. ^ Bird, Winifred, "Powering Japan's future", Japan Times, 24 July 2011, p. 7.
  9. ^ Weisenthal, Joe (11 March 2011). "Japan Declares Nuclear Emergency, As Cooling System Fails At Power Plant". Business Insider. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  10. ^ Story at BBC News, 2011-05-06. retrieved 2011-05-08
  11. ^ Story at Digital Journal. retrieved 2011-05-07
  12. ^ Story at Bloomberg, 2011-05-07. retrieved 2011-05-08]
  13. ^ "Japan nuke plant suspends work". Herald Sun. May 15, 2011.
  14. ^ M. V. Ramana (July 2011 vol. 67 no. 4). "Nuclear power and the public". Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. p. 44. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ Stephanie Cooke (October 10, 2011). "After Fukushima, Does Nuclear Power Have a Future?". New York Times.
  16. ^ Antoni Slodkowski (June 15, 2011). "Japan anti-nuclear protesters rally after quake". Reuters.
  17. ^ Hiroko Tabuchi (July 13, 2011). "Japan Premier Wants Shift Away From Nuclear Power". New York Times.
  18. ^ Tsuyoshi Inajima and Yuji Okada (Oct 28, 2011). "Nuclear Promotion Dropped in Japan Energy Policy After Fukushima". Bloomberg.
  19. ^ IEA Key stats 2010 pages 19 and 27
  20. ^ Bird, Winifred, "Distribution gridlock restricts renewables", Japan Times, 24 July 2011, p. 8.
  21. ^ Denis Gray (April 6 2011). "Activists call for renewable energy at UN meeting". The Guardian. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ Cite error: The named reference bks2011 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  23. ^ Justin McCurry (3 May 2011). "Japan's nuclear energy debate: some see spur for a renewable revolution". CSMonitor.
  24. ^ Chisaki Watanabe (26 August 2011). "Japan Spurs Solar, Wind Energy With Subsidies, in Shift From Nuclear Power". Bloomberg.
  25. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference bb20110916 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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