Nuclear Renaissance Threatened as Japanese Reactor Struggles (Bloomberg)

[jpak]

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-03-12/nuclear-renaissance-threatened-as-japanese-reactor-struggles.html

Global expansion of nuclear power may draw more scrutiny and skepticism as the world watches Japan struggle to prevent a meltdown at a reactor damaged by a record earthquake, a former U.S. atomic regulator said.

“This is obviously a significant setback for the so-called nuclear renaissance,” said Peter Bradford, a former member of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. “The image of a nuclear power plant blowing up before your eyes on a television screen is a first.”

An explosion at Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Fukushima Daiichi No. 1 reactor, which had begun venting radioactive gas after its cooling system failed, injured four workers yesterday. The utility reported no damage to the building housing the reactor. It began flooding the reactor with sea water and boric acid today to prevent a meltdown and eliminate the potential for a catastrophic release of radiation.

There are 442 reactors worldwide that supply about 15 percent of the globe’s electricity, according to the London- based World Nuclear Association. There are plans to build more than 155 additional reactors, most of them in Asia, and 65 reactors are currently under construction, the association said on its website.

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[LiberalEsto]

1. Gee, what a pity

All those poor thwarted corporations

:cry:

[Wilms]

2. Threatened? More like melting down. n/t

[FBaggins]

3. "Yup"

Knew I'd get a chance to use it some day.

But it's not a "tell" for me. :)

[ClarkUSA]

4. Most of France's domestic energy needs are supplied by nuclear plants, I believe.

However, they are not sitting on The Ring of Fire nor are they subject to a tsunami threat. If I were living on the California coast near a nuclear plant sitting on a fault line, I would probably look into moving just about now.

[FBaggins]

5. Essentially all.

They get about 20% of their electricity from other sources, but they also export roughly that same amount in excess nuclear generation.

So if they shut down all of their reactors they would be left with next-to-nothing.

Plus neighboring countries like England would be unable to import the power they need to balance out some of their variable sources.

[kristopher]

6. ANyone can build a lot of nuclear power if they want to spend money foolishly

... and deal with the associated problems of nuclear waste, nuclear weapons proliferation and safety.

The question is why would they. Renewable energy sources are less expensive and build a much better grid that empowers individuals rather than centralized authority. For example just imagine needing a new Yucca mountain for storage every two years (what would be required to meet 1/3 of global energy needs).


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