Editorial

The government's attempt to promote clean energy to replace nuclear power following the crisis at the tsunami-hit Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant is widely viewed as a litmus test of electric power policy reform.

A massive tsunami generated by the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake and radiation leaks from the nuclear power plant that the disaster caused have drastically changed circumstances surrounding Japan's energy policy.

At a news conference on May 18, Prime Minister Naoto Kan for the first time mentioned his plan to fundamentally review the government's nuclear power policy and its basic energy plan.

There are various challenges for Japan's energy policy, ranging from the recycling of nuclear fuel by extracting plutonium from spent fuel, which requires final disposal of high-level nuclear waste, to the restructuring of the electric power industry including the separation of power companies into power generators and suppliers. Needless to say, no easy solution can be found to any of these issues.

However, Japan should make better use of natural energy sources -- such as solar, wind, biological and geothermal power generation in a bid to gradually decrease its reliance on nuclear power -- an idea that has won wide support from experts as well as members of the public.

Nuclear power stations are major sources of electric power, and questions remain as to whether clean energy sources can fully replace nuclear power. Some experts have pointed out that there are limits to the use of natural energy sources in terms of both the amount and costs. Moreover, there are other stumbling blocks to the use of these eco-friendly energy sources.

The frequency and voltage of electricity generated by solar cells and wind power generators are unstable. It has been widely viewed as difficult to fully introduce these power sources in order to stably operate electric power grid networks. However, the full introduction of these clean energy sources has been hampered by the fact that power grid networks have been separately operated by power suppliers.

It has been pointed out for many years that more solar and wind power could be utilized if power grid networks are operated in a more integrated manner beyond borders between power suppliers.

Electric power companies that have enjoyed regional monopolies have played an important role in stably supplying electric power. However, the demand for electric power is not growing much now and is expected to peak in the near future. Under the circumstances, electric power grid networks should be operated more flexibly, even though the quality of electric power, such as its frequency and voltage, should not be sacrificed.

Questions as to who should foot the increased costs of electric power generation have remained unanswered, which has also blocked the full introduction of clean energy sources. Consumers need to shoulder a certain extra burden. However, the allocation of funds for electric power generation, which has been concentrated in nuclear power under the pretext of the need for research and development, should be rectified and directed more at efforts to increase natural energy sources.

The introduction of geothermal power generation has been hampered by restrictions on development in areas designated as national parks and fears that such power generation could adversely affect hot springs. However, as a volcanic country, Japan should fully use geothermal power to generate electricity. To that end, restrictions on development in national parks should be reviewed and the issue of compensation for any impact that geothermal power plans may have on hot springs should be addressed.

There are many other stumbling blocks to the full use of natural energy sources, and these problems also pose challenges to Japan's overall energy policy.

The government should promote the use of natural energy sources as the first step toward electric power policy reform.