Submitted by InterestedReader on July 18, 2007 - 11:29pm.
Presently, with some of its reactors shut down because of the recent earthquake, Japan may have to depend on oil and coal thermal to boost up its summmer energy output. Why does this country which gave us the Prius not look to ocean current power? It is an island nation with high ocean current potential which could develop technology to generate large amounts of clean power from this source.
Nuclear plants presently supply about 30% of their electric needs but they must consider that as their reactors age, the risk of something going wrong increases. When it comes to design of plants, extra strengthening has to be given to protection against earthquakes. If the power of a reactor is increased to accomodate demand, other parts of the system such as transformers must also be upgraded.
Japan should seriously consider development of ocean current sources, at least initially in a manner supplementary to thermal coal and nuclear but perhaps in the long run, as a replacement for them. Ocean current power for Japan would prove to be sustainable and safe.
Japan's need for ocean current power.
Presently, with some of its reactors shut down because of the recent earthquake, Japan may have to depend on oil and coal thermal to boost up its summmer energy output. Why does this country which gave us the Prius not look to ocean current power? It is an island nation with high ocean current potential which could develop technology to generate large amounts of clean power from this source.
Nuclear plants presently supply about 30% of their electric needs but they must consider that as their reactors age, the risk of something going wrong increases. When it comes to design of plants, extra strengthening has to be given to protection against earthquakes. If the power of a reactor is increased to accomodate demand, other parts of the system such as transformers must also be upgraded.
Japan should seriously consider development of ocean current sources, at least initially in a manner supplementary to thermal coal and nuclear but perhaps in the long run, as a replacement for them. Ocean current power for Japan would prove to be sustainable and safe.
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