People are wrestling with the burden': Japan pivots to focus on nuclear power maximisation' alongside renewables

"The stillness of a bitterly cold afternoon is broken by the swish, swoosh of three 50m-long blades, adjusting automatically to the tiniest shift in the direction of a dependable westerly wind that keeps them turning day and night. From here, up on a mountain ridge in rural Fukushima prefecture in north-east Japan, the wind turbines stretch for miles. In the distance, you can see the outlines of the reactor buildings at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which is in the slow process of being decommissioned at a cost so far of $35bn (26bn) almost 15 years since it suffered a triple meltdown after being struck by a magnitude-9.0 earthquake and a 15m (49ft) tsunami."

"Built at a cost of 67bn (310m), the facility went into full operation in April this year, weeks after Japan's government previewed its strategic energy plan as it aims to achieve net zero by 2050. The plan has been controversial with campaigners because it ditches attempts to reduce Japan's reliance on nuclear power after the Fukushima disaster, calling instead for a maximisation of nuclear power, which will account for about 20% of total energy output in 2040: about 14 reactors have been restarted and the assumption is that 30 will be in full operation by then."

GDP per capita stands at $34,700 and population totals 124 million. Total annual emissions are 961 million tonnes of CO2, with per-capita emissions of 7.77 tonnes; climate plans are rated critically insufficient and the most recent NDC is 2025. The Abukuma windfarm comprises 46 turbines with 50m-long blades, built at a cost of 67bn (310m) and entered full operation in April. The Fukushima Daiichi plant remains in a prolonged decommissioning process costing about $35bn (26bn) after a triple meltdown triggered by a magnitude-9.0 earthquake and a 15m tsunami. The government’s strategic energy plan aims for net zero by 2050 while increasing nuclear generation to roughly 20% of output by 2040, with 14 reactors restarted and an assumption of 30 in operation.

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