With an aggressive China at my door, i‘d build nuclear reactors as well, and not for energy use only.
Aka the screwdriver’s turn policy.
Japan adopts plan to make maximum use of nuclear power
21–30 of 172 posts
Re: Japan adopts plan to make maximum use of nuclear power
#22Earlier quoted context omitted.
Russian trolls I would say.
For sure, but not only. The German way - turning off nuclear power to replace it with coal and gas while running token amount of renewables which will never cover the base load (because the required amount of storage would be insane), is very much the dream of traditional coal, gas and oil industries. Yet the Germans argue it is the best way because "what about the waste?!!!111" It is a shame that whole country manag…
Yes, except that political decision making doesn’t reflect public opinion. The majority wants nuclear power back.
Re: Japan adopts plan to make maximum use of nuclear power
#23Earlier quoted context omitted.
Russian trolls I would say.
For sure, but not only. The German way - turning off nuclear power to replace it with coal and gas while running token amount of renewables which will never cover the base load (because the required amount of storage would be insane), is very much the dream of traditional coal, gas and oil industries. Yet the Germans argue it is the best way because "what about the waste?!!!111" It is a shame that whole country manag…
All the while the millions of yearly deaths directly caused by air pollution of fossil fuels are waved away.
Re: Japan adopts plan to make maximum use of nuclear power
#24As a German this is quite bizzare to me. Here, our politicians take Fukushima as an example why we should stop nuclear energy. People are scared of nuclear energy. And now Japan goes max nuclear.
As far as I understand, the FUD campaign was actually orchestrated by Russian gas companies to make Germany more dependent on Russian gas, and it seems to have worked.
Re: Japan adopts plan to make maximum use of nuclear power
#25As a German this is quite bizzare to me. Here, our politicians take Fukushima as an example why we should stop nuclear energy. People are scared of nuclear energy. And now Japan goes max nuclear.
Because it makes no sense to not go nuclear.
For one: Japan has no natural resources. Fuel for power must be imported. Materials for solar panels (or the panels themselves) must be imported. Nuclear is by far one of the most efficient /and/ effective forms of power generation humanity currently has.
For two: Fukushima was a result of human incompetence, nothing to do with the reactor itself or nuclear technology thereof. The meltdowns at Fukushima #1 could have been completely avoided had the government of the time not been a bunch of worthless fools (hint: TEPCO wanted to scuttle the reactors before they melted down).
For third: Japan needs power /today/, not tomorrow. Even assuming a transition to non-nuclear forms of power, that will not happen overnight. Using nuclear power is a concern of practical necessity.
For fourth: Nuclear fearmongering is patently ridiculous. Nuclear power plants are not atomic bombs, for crying out loud. The same people who cry their hearts out about radiation proceed to fly on airliners and eat bananas. The answer to nuclear fearmongering is not shunning nuclear technology, it's to teach and bring more awareness about what nuclear technology is.
Re: Japan adopts plan to make maximum use of nuclear power
#26As a German this is quite bizzare to me. Here, our politicians take Fukushima as an example why we should stop nuclear energy. People are scared of nuclear energy. And now Japan goes max nuclear.
>people are scared of nuclear energy
Let's not make policy out of unfounded fears. Let's look at some simple facts:
1. Fewer people have died from nuclear reactor meltdowns than from any other form of electricity generation. It is by far the safest form of power.
2. Even with the price of renewables dropping quickly, we will not be able to decarbonize quickly enough to prevent the terrible climate change outcomes. We need an all of the above solution to non-fossil fuel energy sources.
3. Germany decommissioned several nuclear plants out of fear and have both increased their reliance on fossil fuels as a result and increased dependency on Russia. It was a very foolish decision
Re: Japan adopts plan to make maximum use of nuclear power
#27Earlier quoted context omitted.
For sure, but not only. The German way - turning off nuclear power to replace it with coal and gas while running token amount of renewables which will never cover the base load (because the required amount of storage would be insane), is very much the dream of traditional coal, gas and oil industries. Yet the Germans argue it is the best way because "what about the waste?!!!111" It is a shame that whole country manag…
Yes, except that political decision making doesn’t reflect public opinion. The majority wants nuclear power back.
That I did not know.
Re: Japan adopts plan to make maximum use of nuclear power
#28As a German this is quite bizzare to me. Here, our politicians take Fukushima as an example why we should stop nuclear energy. People are scared of nuclear energy. And now Japan goes max nuclear.
Whether or not you support nuclear power, being “scared” of it is an admission of ignorance and indicative of short-term reactionary thinking. It ought to be a source of national shame, not pride.
With apologies to Yoda, fear is the path to the dark ages.
Re: Japan adopts plan to make maximum use of nuclear power
#29Earlier quoted context omitted.
Russian trolls I would say.
For sure, but not only. The German way - turning off nuclear power to replace it with coal and gas while running token amount of renewables which will never cover the base load (because the required amount of storage would be insane), is very much the dream of traditional coal, gas and oil industries. Yet the Germans argue it is the best way because "what about the waste?!!!111" It is a shame that whole country manag…
Stop spreading disinformation. Germany not only switched off nuclear plants but reduced its coal use drastically compared to levels 10 years ago. I've posted data on this a billion times, and am too lazy to do it now -- checking the actual data for once before posting an opinion should not be too difficult. Sorry, but this is beyond pitiful.
Re: Japan adopts plan to make maximum use of nuclear power
#30As a German this is quite bizzare to me. Here, our politicians take Fukushima as an example why we should stop nuclear energy. People are scared of nuclear energy. And now Japan goes max nuclear.
Because it makes no sense to not go nuclear. For one: Japan has no natural resources. Fuel for power must be imported. Materials for solar panels (or the panels themselves) must be imported. Nuclear is by far one of the most efficient /and/ effective forms of power generation humanity currently has. For two: Fukushima was a result of human incompetence, nothing to do with the reactor itself or nuclear technology ther…
Great answer, I would add that also there could be new solutions to disposing nuclear material that adds more confidence to the full cycle.