This follows a similar pledge made by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Before the triple tragedy that struck Japan and problems with the Fukushima nuclear reactors, such decisions would have been unimaginable.
Predictions were instead for a nuclear energy renaissance, with the promise of abundant, cheap power that is low in carbon emissions. Post-Fukushima, long-standing minorities of anti-nuclear protestors have gained wider support in society.
But is going non-nuclear a workable policy?
Asia is not well-positioned in this. The regional economies need energy and are mostly not self-sufficient in this area. China and India have few domestic energy sources, other than to use polluting and carbon-heavy coal. Imports from the Middle East remain critical, but look to be increasingly risky and expensive.
This sets the context for nuclear energy ambitions across Asia.
The Chinese intend to roll out the grandest nuclear power plant building programme seen in history. Countries in Southeast Asia with no prior experience in large scale, nuclear power generation--Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand--plan to build their first plants.
Post-Fukushima, Beijing has called for a pause in order to relook at safety issues. Other Asians however continue to push timelines, notably Vietnam and Malaysia. In many cases, their own citizens are not consulted despite public concerns over environmental protection, human health and safety.
The overarching context of energy policy seems lost in the anxiety to push ahead with nuclear plants. Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia continue to subsidise energy, increasing government burdens as oil prices rise. Their artificially low energy prices increase waste and destroy incentives to build new capacity, and to invest in energy efficiency and alternative technologies.
Nuclear a small percentage of total power needs
Moreover, aside from China, others in Asia project that only small percentages of their total energy needs will come from nuclear power. Indonesia targets to meet just 5 percent of their needs from nuclear by 2025. In Vietnam, the plan is for 14 plants by 2030, providing a modest 8 percent of power needs. Given safety and security concerns, the Southeast Asian nations seem to be risking a considerable amount for relatively small returns.
In contrast, studies suggest that energy efficiency measures can achieve at least the equivalent savings in power needs with safe, off-the-shelf technology at a much lower cost. Renewable energy currently costs more, but with technological advances may prove viable in the medium term.
Eye on Germany and Japan
It is in this context that Asians should watch what happens in Germany and Japan. Each derives around a hefty 30 percent of their energy mix from nuclear. From this scale, it will take considerable effort to develop sufficient alternatives while keeping the lights on. Germany has already increased generation from renewable sources from 6 percent in 2000 to some 16.5 percent today.
It is not clear that these countries will persist and succeed. But if these two major industrialised economies can wean themselves off nuclear power, they can pioneer a path for others to follow to meet energy needs as their economies grow while lowering carbon. From this, others in Asia can learn non-nuclear options.
Associate Professor Simon Tay is Chair of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, a Supporting Organisation of SIEW 2011. This article was originally published on 23 July 2011 in TODAY, Jakarta Post and The Nation.
By: Associate Professor Simon Tay, Singapore Institute of International Affairs