Preferences for Nuclear Power in Post-Fukushima Japan: Evidence from a Large Nationwide Household Survey

Abstract

Utilizing the data of a large nationwide household survey conducted in 2014, we investigate public preferences on nuclear power in Japan after the Fukushima nuclear accident and the role of four sets of factors: (1) household/individual socioeconomic characteristics, (2) psychological status, (3) geographical aspects, and (4) Fukushima accident-related experiences. The preferred energy mix, according to the averaged responses from the survey, includes 0.59 for renewables, 0.29 for fossil fuels, and 0.12 for nuclear—much more skewed towards the renewables than the actual national share of renewables of less than 0.2. Male, older, unmarried, less educated, high-income people, and government party supporters have a preference towards a higher share of nuclear power, except if they live near nuclear power plants. The experience of blackout and aversion to nuclear power during the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 lowers the share of nuclear power in the preferred mix.

Can Japan Meet Its 2030 Nuclear Power Target?

“…The most likely candidate today would be TEPCO's Higashidori-1 reactor project. Following Fukushima accident, it is nevertheless difficult to promote the idea of new nuclear reactors in Japan based on current available technologies which are socially unpopular [33]. Furthermore, because of limited developments more advanced nuclear technologies such as fast breeder or fusion reactors are quite unlikely to provide solutions for the coming decade.…”

“…In Europe in 2018, the latest year for which data is available, there are well over 400 cross-border transmission lines [17] through which 454 TWh, or almost 11% of the continent's total electricity production, were traded [18]. Another good example is the four times smaller power system of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) [19] where active cross-border electricity trade also takes place (32)(33) TWh in 2018) [20], especially in the Mekong River basin with Laos being the main net exporter of the region [21] and Thailand the main net importer [22]. Historically, the factors for developing these initiatives were economics (i.e., trading the most cost competitive electricity) and security of supply (i.e., taking advantage of power system complementarities).…”

Analysis of Release Model Effect in the Transport of Fission Products Simulating the FPT3 Test Using MELCOR 2.1 and MELCOR 2.2

“…* NAC no active channel. 2 The estimated relative uncertainty by class. It was calculated from the estimated relative uncertainty by element from Table 6 taken into account the element mass for each class.…”

“…The European Commission required to carry out stress tests on all NPPs placed in the European Union (EU) Member States. The conclusions of this analysis have led EU members to improve their knowledge on severe accident phenomenology to ensure the nuclear energy is a safe and sustainable energy option [2].…”