No Alternatives
Both the nuclear power generation capacity and the number of nuclear power plants in operation have gone up sharply since the Fukushima disaster three years ago.
This trend has been witnessed in a number of countries other than European ones that have to increase the ratio of alternative energy use to 20 percent on average by 2020 in compliance with the EU Climate Change and Energy Package.
According to the World Nuclear Association (WNA), it is China and India that are leading the growth of capacity. China ran 15 atomic power stations with a combined output of 11,881 MWe in 2012, and increased the numbers to 17 and 13,842 MWe in 2013 and to 20 and 17,135 MWe this year. In addition, China is building 29 more nuclear power plants with a combined capacity of 32,955 MWe, has fixed construction plans for 57 more with 61,235 Mwe, and is examining the construction of 118 extra stations with 122,000 MWe.
In India, the numbers went up from 20 and 4,385 MWe to 21 and 5,302 MWe between 2012 and this year, and six nuclear power plants are under construction now. Plans have been determined for 22 more plants (21,300 Mwe), and the Indian government is considering building 35 more (40,000 MWe). The WNA explained that both of these countries opted for nuclear power instead of alternative energy, despite the increasing necessity for the latter in view of the environmental pollution issue following rapid industrialization and urbanization, because of the lack of infrastructure.
In the meantime, the United States is currently running 100 nuclear power plants with a capacity of 99,361 Mwe, and five more (6,018 MWe) are under construction there, while plans for another five (6,063 MWe) are at their final stage. The construction of 17 additional atomic power stations (26,000 MWe) is on the table, too. President Barack Obama recently announced that the U.S. would obtain 20 percent of the electricity it consumes from alternative energy sources by 2020.
Japan, which shut down 50 of its atomic power stations after the disaster, is planning to put them back into operation. According to the Nihon Keizai Daily, Takahama Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4 are expected to pass safety inspections for re-operation within this year before the restart scheduled for the spring of next year. A total of 23 nuclear power plants (20,656 MWe) are currently in operation in Korea, and five additional plants (6,870 MWe) are being built. Plans for six (8,730 MWe) are about to be finalized, too.
“Wide networks of energy storage systems have to be set up in order to make up for the shortcomings of new and renewable energy, which the supply depends heavily on weather conditions,” an energy industry expert advised, adding, “However, most non-European countries are opting to resort to atomic power stations rather than ESS in order to save time and cost.”