Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
bolstering domestic energy security. During the process, wind power poten-
tial estimates are inexplicably on the rise.
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Furthermore, the government's
perspective on the economics of nuclear power is being challenged,
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and
international wind power cost estimates are being introduced in energy pol-
icy circles to encourage greater scrutiny over why wind power cost estimates
have been so high in Japan (to be discussed in section 9.7). Regrettably,
renewable energy policy is still in the hands of the LDP, an ardent proponent
of nuclear power.
9.5.3 Technological
→
Political
By far the greatest technological inluence on political behavior stems from
the technological lock that the nuclear power industry has engendered
in Japan. Year after year, US$5-US$10 billion have been funneled into
nuclear power research.
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Since the beginning of the nuclear power pro-
gram, the end goal was and still is the achievement of a closed loop nuclear
fuel cycle, featuring fast breeder reactors and advanced waste reprocessing
technologies. To date there has been little to indicate that the inish line is
anywhere in sight. he nation's only fast breeder reactor has been oline
for all but nine months since its completion in 1991.
he inancial commitment that Japan has made to nuclear power has
sired a powerful regime that continues to inluence government policy.
Moreover, the program is the ofspring of Japan's LDP, which has governed
Japan for all but four years since 1955. he amount of political capital
expended and the concomitant ideological entrenchment suggests that
it is improbable that LDP politicians will suddenly change direction and
abandon Japan's nuclear power program.
In terms of wind power development, competing against a heavily sup-
ported nuclear power industry is not the only signiicant hurdle. Another
key barrier has been resistance to wind power from the regional utilities.
As outlined earlier, the regional utilities have developed an infrastructure
that is conducive to managing large nuclear or fossil fuel-ired power plants
and have exhibited resistance to the notion of connecting numerous wind
power projects to the grid. Simply put, for Japan's utilities, wind power is
a nuisance.
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Going forward, there is growing support for (or at least acceptance of)
ofshore wind power development. here are currently a number of projects
in the works, with the future of ofshore wind dependant on how the actual
economics play out for these projects. Needless to say, if nuclear power is
phased out, the economic appeal of ofshore wind power development will
