Posted on 07/05/2022 8:51:19 AM PDT by BeauBo
Japan is facing an energy crisis that can severely hurt the world's third-largest economy as it is forced to tackle a combination of a weak local currency, the fallout from the Ukraine war, and a heatwave.
Japan already had a significant energy import bill as it depends on foreign oil and gas for 90 percent of its needs. But as the yen fell to the lowest in 20 years, Japan's bill became even bigger, with the price rise in crude oil, which has been some 40 percent in dollar terms since the start of 2022, reaching a whopping 70 percent in yen terms...
Because of its extreme dependence on imported energy, Japan has had to continue importing Russian oil and gas despite its verbal commitment to sanctions against Moscow...
It could be because of its heavy energy import bill that Japan proposed to the G7 to cap Russian oil export prices at half the current rate.
(Excerpt) Read more at oilprice.com ...
>>We should be full bore exploring Thorium Reactors, Pebble Bed reactors, modular and scalable reactors using 21st century technology.<<
Aw,shit. Wind and sun provide the answers. /s
We have Fusion, but it remains safely ~93,000,000 mi. away [8.3 light minutes << 10 years].
“I am sure the earthquake-protection technology can be found, if it isn’t already available.”
The earthquake in 2011 was the fourth most severe ever recorded in the world (magnitude 9.0–9.1), and the largest ever recorded in Japan. The whole planet jumped eight inches off of its axis.
The earthquake protection functioned correctly at nuclear power plants all over Japan. Flooding by the tsunami is what led to failure at Fukushima. The backup diesel generators were flooded, and they lost power to the cooling pumps.
Japan really needs to operate nuclear power plants. There are newer and better designs than the one at Fukushima.
“Don’t the Land of the Rising Sun believe in solar panels for their energy supply?”
They actually do a good bit of that, and manufacture their own. Even after a big push for thirty years though, their installed capacity is about 7% of electric demand (one of the highest percentages in the world).
LOL, well, I guess no earthquakes or tsunamis can reach it, so it is pretty safe then!
Out of the 33 nuclear reactors in Japan 10 are operating ( 2 here where I live in Kyushu ) , 7 have been approved to be restarted , and 8 have applied for restart .
150 coal power stations in Japan . Yes we have solar , as well as hydroelectric , oil , gas , geothermal , and wind .
Japan also has one of the worst inverted demographic pyramids among Western nations. The fact they are shrinking will help trim that oil demand in the long term.
“Out of the 33 nuclear reactors in Japan 10 are operating... 7 have been approved to be restarted , and 8 have applied for restart.”
That is a a very significant Program, restoring most of the former capacity.
Only hydropower can compete with a good nuclear plant, for either cost per megawatt or reliability.
“150 coal power stations in Japan”
Japan does have some exploitable coal deposits, but is not particularly blessed in that regard either.
It could really benefit from some new technology to extract deep sea hydrocarbon deposits, or even to harness tidal/ocean current energy.
In the absence of that, nuclear seems their most elegant option, solving the most of their challenges best.
“150 coal power stations in Japan”
Japan does have some exploitable coal deposits, but is not particularly blessed in that regard either.
It could really benefit from some new technology to extract deep sea hydrocarbon deposits, or even to harness tidal/ocean current energy.
In the absence of that, nuclear seems their most elegant option, solving the most of their challenges best.
Perhaps they should become less industrious and just glide into a recession like we do. Will they bomb Pearl Harbor again to get their industry going or will they show up in El Paso border region?
They are pretty nuclear now for power as it is already
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.