Ishiba pledges to promote investment in refurbishing nuclear plants

I've lost count how many unrealized pledges from Japanese PM now.

Japan of all nations should be at the forefront of developing Deep Geothermal power. Once the well drilling technology is proven the conversion can happen very rapidly using existing power plants. The source of steam will change from coal, gas, oil or nuclear to geothermal. The rest of the plant and all the power distribution infrastructure can be used as-is.

Desert TortoiseToday  08:54 am JST

Japan of all nations should be at the forefront of developing Deep Geothermal power.

You are absolutely right about this one.

Any of the boffins in Govt. factoring in the drop in population when doing these calculations ?

How do you refurbish all the concrete and steel? These reactors are degrading daily, that's the problem, they're less safe with the passage of time.

Time for NEW Nuclear tech., SMR's with lower temps.

The electric power companies can no longer afford to build new nuclear plants. The cost of a new reactor has increased, $5,500/kW to $8,100/kW or between $6 billion and $9 billion for each 1,100 MW plant.

SMR's costs radically dropping as the industry scales up to meet demand for AI etc. Japan needs to upgrade!

Besides, can we "afford" another Daiichi Fukushima meltdown? Most expensive man-made disaster in history with costs increasing every day and not just financial!

Probably means new office furniture for the managers...

resources or potentials for renewable energy is abundant in Japan.

But, LDP regime has deeply related with large corporation groups by political donation for decades, they prioritize immediate profit or circumstances of major power industries than safety of general citizen.

Reactor vessels holding the nuclear fuels cannot be replaced and have a life cycle.

Legacy reactors need to be decommissioned before BIG one hits, as their concrete and steel's degrading daily.

High time for "RISKY" Japan to upgrade its nuclear with 21st century nuclear technology, not extending operating lives of what's been already been proven to be VERY dangerous legacy technology that can't be SOLD anywhere.

It will take 50 years to decommission the 20 reactors that have received licenses. A major issue is where to store the nuclear waste. Some reactors had their life extended to 60 years. Same as in the US.