Japan's energy mix challenge

Japan's plan to compensate for the loss of nuclear energy with renewables (solar and biofuels) appears unsustainable or unachievable in the post-Fukushima era, Dr Hooman Peimani, Principal Fellow & Head, Energy Security Division, at the Energy Studies Institute, told EMART Asia.

Dr Peimani explained that, unlike nuclear energy, renewables (hydro, solar, wind, geothermal, biofuels and waste) are unsuitable for generating large-scale electricity due to their technological limits and high costs.

Dr Peimani highlighted the energy resource realities that Japan faces, notably insignificant domestic fossil energy resources and heavy dependency on imported oil, gas and coal. Prior to the Fukushima accident, nuclear energy had been playing a significant 27 percent role in the energy mix and was an important factor in decreasing dependency on fossil fuel imports.

The closure of the country's nuclear power reactors has, therefore, seen a major increase in fossil fuel (oil, gas/LNG and coal) consumption and a growing dependence on energy imports.

Dr Peimani explained that the heavy financial burden of imported fuels had already been affecting Japan's economic recovery and growth in the post-GFC era. Now, the post-Fukushima issues are making the country more vulnerable to political fluctuations in its energy-sourcing regions, primarily the Persian Gulf/Middle East.

An additional issue of the changes in the country's energy supply mix is the reversal of Japan's gain in terms of reducing its CO2 emissions.

Dr Peimani commented that Japan's energy plan without nuclear energy will create challenges to its energy security, environment and economy. He said Japan faced an affordability challenge because using coal, oil derivatives and gas (LNG) for power generation is far more costly than using the available nuclear power capacity. The country also faces an environmental challenge because of the increased use of fossil fuels. Japan also has to deal with an accessibility challenge because of increased dependency on imported fuels from unstable Middle East sources, which potentially could see supplies disrupted.

In conclusion, Dr Peimani said Japan's current energy mix is not sustainable regardless of the type of fossil energy used, including LNG. Dr Peimani believes a clear shift towards restoring Japan's pre-Fukushima energy mix is emerging and that the country will gradually re-operationalise its current nuclear reactors--excluding those which cannot be upgraded to withstand tsunamis at an acceptable cost--and to build new ones.

By :Grace Ong, EMA