Here’s more about the 6th Strategic Energy Plan
Nuclear power generation (Part 1)
Enhancement of safety for restart and R&D for advanced reactors
(in provisional translation)

On October 22, 2021, the Government of Japan published the 6th Strategic Energy Plan to show the direction of Japan’s energy policy. It explains our climate-related efforts to overcome challenges toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. It also covers policies to solve various issues in relation to the energy supply/demand structure of Japan. Of the many topics covered by the 6th Strategic Energy Plan, this article focuses on our efforts and future directions for nuclear power generation.

Status of nuclear power in Japan’s energy policy

Nuclear power is a CO2-free power source that can contribute to climate change countermeasures. It has the capacity to efficiently ensure a stable supply of electricity. Additionally, operational costs are typically low regardless of the fluctuations in fuel prices.

The latest Strategic Energy Plan states that toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, nuclear power will continue to be utilized on a necessary scale on the major premise of ensuring safety. It also indicates that the ratio of nuclear power in 2030 will be 20 to 22% of the total power mix, which has not changed from the ratio shown in the previous plan, in consideration of the target levels for 2050.

Efforts to enhance safety in utilizing nuclear power

The accident at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (NPS) in 2011 should be remembered and reflected upon earnestly as the starting point of Japan’s nuclear energy policy. It was a myth of safety shared by the government and nuclear-related businesses that caused the disaster. Some other nuclear power stations were also affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, but they avoided disastrous situations like the one at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi NPS. We must continue to make efforts not to repeat the tragedy, taking advantage of the experiences at those power stations as well as the knowledge we accumulated in the past.

To this end, the government established a highly independent body named the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) in 2012. Furthermore, in 2013, the new regulatory standards equal to the world’s most stringent requirements were formulated based on the lessons learned in the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi NPS. The IAEA’s regulatory standards as well as those in other nations were also carefully examined in establishing the new standards.

The restart of nuclear power plants will be advanced only if the highly independent Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) gives the green light to a plant after having examined the power plants in question both scientifically and technically and decided that they conform to the new regulatory standards. We will proceed with the restart while respecting the authority’s decision and gaining the understanding of the local stakeholders.

Industry-wide efforts to ensure safety in preparation for restart

The operation of 10 nuclear power plants had been restarted as of July 2022. Additionally, 4 nuclear power plants were granted permission by the NRA to change their installations , and local municipalities have expressed their understanding about the restart of those power plants. To achieve an ideal energy mix, efforts must continue toward the restart of more power plants.

Electric power companies are making large investments in safety enhancement and installing additional safety equipment in preparation for restarting operations. They also have advanced industry-wide voluntary efforts to enhance safety, such as establishing the Atomic Energy Association (ATENA)*1 and the Japan Nuclear Safety Institute (JANSI)*2. They are also voluntarily strengthening measures for protection against nuclear materials and cyber security, while of course meeting regulatory requirements.

*1 ATENA tackles technical challenges shared by the industry.
*2 JANSI conducts peer review activities between businesses on the safety management systems at power stations to improve on-site safety.

Furthermore, in 2021, nuclear power businesses and other industrial sectors inaugurated the NPS Restart Acceleration Task force. The task force brought together human resources including external experts in an effort to maintain and enhance technical expertise across the whole industry. More specifically, it not only focuses on tangible and intangible safety enhancement measures to meet the regulatory standards, but also provides support for improving the skills of human resources, including the on-site operation and maintenance staff.

Long-term stable operation and improvement in utilization rates

Businesses will be required to operate nuclear power stations for a long time in a stable manner toward achieving a nuclear power ratio of 20-22% in the energy mix stated in the 6th Strategic Energy Plan. To this end, they must constantly pursue safety enhancement not only individually but also throughout the whole industry.

Safety and reliability will be improved with preemptive maintenance. For this purpose, efforts will be made mainly by the ATENA to study technical challenges toward reducing problems, enrich maintenance activities, and accumulate knowledge about degradation that occurs over time.

Technical consideration is being made toward efficiently conducting periodic inspections as well as achieving longer operational cycles. There are examples in other countries, and Japan once studied the feasibility. Efforts will continue to be made, taking into consideration examples at home and abroad.

Development of advanced reactors will be promoted to overcome challenges in terms of safety and nuclear waste.

Development of new nuclear reactors referred to as “advanced reactors” is being accelerated globally. The 6th Strategic Energy Plan states that keeping pace with the international trends, Japan will promote the development of advanced reactors that are expected to fundamentally enhance safety, reliability, and efficiency toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

For instance, advanced light-water reactors are being developed to upgrade existing LWRs with new technologies. These reactors are expected to enhance resilience to natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis and improve safety measures against plane crashes and terrorist attacks. They will also have the sophisticated ability to vary their output to compensate for fluctuations in weather-dependent power generation. They will be equipped with a system that naturally cools the reactor in case of an accident that causes a loss of power. Furthermore, they will be designed to confine radioactive materials within the site of the power station in the event of a core meltdown.

When the accident occurred at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi NPS, the pipes that covered the fuel rods emitted hydrogen, leading to explosions. Development of “accident-resistant fuel” for enhanced safety is being advanced by metal-coating these pipes to prevent both oxidization and production of hydrogen.

New reactors named “fast reactors” are also attracting attention as they can reduce nuclear waste while enhancing safety. In the United States, a company named TerraPower, headed by Mr. Bill Gates, is advancing the development of fast reactors. TerraPower, recognizing Japanese knowledge and experience in operating the fast reactor named Monju, concluded a memorandum of understanding with the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Mitsubishi FRB Systems in January 2021. It is anticipated that development of this type of reactor will be advanced globally including in cooperation between Japan and the US.

Moreover, R&D for cancer treatment making use of fast reactors is progressing. Actinium is a radioactive substance that can be mass-produced at low cost using JAEA’s experimental fast reactor Joyo. It is attracting attention as the world’s most advanced medicine for treating cancer.

R&D for “high temperature gas-cooled reactors” is also being advanced. Japan has cutting-edge technology in the form of the HTTR (High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor). The HTTR technology, capable of recovering the heat of 950℃ (the world’ highest temperature) from the reactor, will make cogeneration feasible, which produces hydrogen while generating electricity. Constructing a high temperature gas-cooled reactor only requires minimal land area–1/1600th of the size that is needed for solar power generation to produce the same amount of hydrogen. In addition to electricity, it can supply carbon-free hydrogen and heat in large quantities stably, regardless of weather conditions. Using this technology, energy-intensive industries such as steel and chemical may be able to achieve decarbonization by 2050.

Small Modular Reactors (SMR) are also attracting attention as R&D is being advanced around the world. These small reactors can be constructed at minimal initial cost with simple reactor design, and their operation avoids human errors and equipment failures. In the United States, a company named NuScale is proceeding with R&D with the aim of constructing its first reactor by 2029. NuScale’s investors include Japan’s JGC, IHI and JABIC. We will promote R&D for SMRs while utilizing international collaborations such as this.

Division in charge

About the article

Nuclear Energy Policy Planning Division, Electricity and Gas Industry Department, ANRE

About Special Contents

Research and Public Relations Office, Commissioner’s Secretariat, ANRE