One of the most populated nations on earth, Japan has a robust economy based on trade, industry, and service sector activity. As a result, the nation requires a reliable and secure electricity grid. Japan has a wide range of power plants to meet this need, offering citizens all around the nation dependable and affordable electricity. This page gives a general overview of the main power plants in Japan, concentrating on the fuel type, output, and location of each facility. It also talks about how these power plants affect the environment in Japan and looks at how the nation intends to lessen its reliance on nuclear energy. Last but not least, it gives a brief review of recent programs and technological advancements aimed at boosting Japan’s energy production efficiency.
All of Japan’s nuclear power plants are listed below.
List of all Nuclear Power Plants in Japan in table format
For the benefit of our readers, we have compiled a list of nuclear power plants in Japan in the table below:
Powerplant Name | PowerPlant Capacity(MW) | Power Plant Location via to Latitude and Longitude | Fuel Type- Primary | Estimated Power Generation(GWH) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Genkai | 3478 | 33.5152, 129.836 | Nuclear | N/A |
Hamaoka | 3617 | 34.6235, 138.1421 | Nuclear | N/A |
Higashi-Dori | 1100 | 41.188, 141.3903 | Nuclear | N/A |
Ikata | 2022 | 33.4909, 132.3088 | Nuclear | N/A |
Kashiwazaki Kariwa | 8212 | 37.4259, 138.5941 | Nuclear | N/A |
Mihama | 826 | 35.7024, 135.9634 | Nuclear | N/A |
Ohi | 4710 | 35.5424, 135.6544 | Nuclear | N/A |
Onagawa | 2174 | 38.4, 141.5 | Nuclear | N/A |
Sendai | 1780 | 31.8335, 130.1887 | Nuclear | N/A |
Shika | 1746 | 37.0609, 136.7265 | Nuclear | N/A |
Shimane | 820 | 35.5379, 132.9991 | Nuclear | N/A |
Takahama | 3392 | 35.5223, 135.5036 | Nuclear | N/A |
Tokai Daini | 1100 | 36.4215, 140.6028 | Nuclear | N/A |
Tomari | 2000 | 43.0367, 140.5125 | Nuclear | N/A |
Tsuruga | 1160 | 35.7519, 136.0189 | Nuclear | N/A |
Wiki-Solar, GEODB, Industry About, WRI, GCPT are some information sources.
Best Nuclear Power Plants in Japan in 2023
Below is information on the best nuclear power plant in Japan:
Powerplant Fukushima Daina Reviews
In the Japanese prefecture of Fukushima, close to the quaint town of Naraha, stands the Fukushima Daini nuclear power plant. It has a 4400 MW capacity and is powered by nuclear energy. It is one of the area’s few nuclear power plants. The latitude and longitude coordinates are 37.3164 and 141.0265, respectively, to indicate the precise location. The power plant began operating on March 8th, 1981, and has been successful in supplying electricity to neighboring communities, assuring the electrification of this region of Japan.
The Fukushima Daini power station has been in operation for more than 40 years, giving it a lengthy and illustrious past. Despite being described as economically wasteful in one of the investigations, it is a significant player in the Japanese energy grid thanks to its capacity and dependability. One of Japan’s most effective nuclear power reactors is Fukushima Daini, which is thought to produce 33,300 GWh of electricity annually.
Powerplant Genkai Reviews
On the Japanese island of Kyushu, in the Saga Prefecture, is where you can find the Genkai Nuclear Power Plant. It occupies a 5.3 km2 area and has a total installed capacity of 3478 MW. The Kyushu Electric Power Company owns and runs the power plant, which went into operation in 1978. One of the nation’s oldest nuclear power plants, the Genkai Power Plant is a significant regional supplier of electricity. Additionally, it is the first nuclear power station in Japan to deploy an advanced boiling water reactor (ABWR), a cutting-edge design.
The coordinates of the Genkai Nuclear Power Plant are 33.5152 N 129.836 E. The plant generates about 23 billion kWh of power yearly and relies mostly on nuclear fuel as its energy source. The Genkai Power Plant is built to produce electricity using a variety of energy sources, including nuclear energy and fossil fuels. A number of safety measures, including containment, thermohydraulic safety systems, radioactive waste management, and emergency control systems, are installed at the plant.
Powerplant Hamaoka Reviews
The Hamaoka Power Plant is situated in Shizuoka, Japan, in Omaezaki-shi. With a capacity of 3.617 GW, it is the largest nuclear power station in the area. Its location is 34.6235 North and 138.1421 East. It was put into service in 1976 and mostly runs on nuclear energy.
Hamaoka, which is anticipated to produce about 33.895 billion kWh of power annually, was created to give the area access to dependable and reasonably priced electricity. Due to its cutting-edge design, it always uses less fuel and generates more energy than other power plants of a similar size. Its sophisticated safety procedures also shield the facility and its staff from potential nuclear mishaps.
The Hamaoka Power Plant makes a significant contribution to the world’s and Japan’s expanding energy needs. The plant contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the fight against climate change by offering a steady source of renewable electricity. It is also one of the world’s most efficient power plants thanks to technical developments. By supplying a steady supply of electricity and eliminating the demand for coal-fired power stations, the plant has improved the quality of life in the area.
Powerplant Higashi-Dori Reviews
With a 1100 MW capacity, the Higashi-Dori nuclear power station is situated in Japan. This power plant’s precise coordinates are 41.188 N and 141.3903 E. The main source of fuel for this facility, which began generating electricity in 2017, is nuclear energy. 11,269 GWh of electricity, which will be used to power Japan’s homes and businesses, is expected to be produced by the nuclear power station.
In addition to using nuclear energy as its principal fuel, the Higashi-Dori nuclear power station also employs secondary energy sources like coal and natural gas. The transmission system effectively distributes the generated electricity, assuring uninterrupted power delivery to the end users. The Higashi-Dori nuclear power station is designed to be effective while using ecologically beneficial practices in the generation of electricity, such as lowering hazardous gas emissions into the atmosphere. Additionally, this power plant is making efforts to minimize its carbon imprint.
Powerplant Ikata Reviews
A nuclear power station with a 2022 MW capacity, the Ikata nuclear power plant is situated in Ikata, Ehime Prefecture, Japan. The facility is not just one of the biggest nuclear power plants in the world, but also the biggest in Japan. The power plant went into operation on February 28, 1985, and is situated at latitude 33.4909 and longitude 132.3088. The Shikoku Electric Power Company runs it.
The Ikata power station uses uranium as its main fuel, which is a clean and renewable energy source. It is predicted to produce roughly 16,000,000,000 KWh of electricity annually. The power plant has been in use since 1985 and has a 40-year lifespan. The facility has developed and improved over time and continues to be a dependable source of electricity for the neighborhood. Due to the fact that it burns uranium as its main fuel, the power plant has also had little impact on the environment.
Powerplant Kashiwazaki Kariwa Reviews
A nuclear power facility called Kashiwazaki Kariwa is located in Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. One of the biggest nuclear power plants in the world, the plant is run by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings and has a total generating capacity of 8,212 Megawatts (MW). The plant’s coordinates are 37.4259 degrees North latitude and 138.5941 degrees East longitude. It is located on a peninsula with a view of the Sea of Japan.
Nuclear energy produced by fission reactions of uranium-235 serves as the main fuel for electricity production at Kashiwazaki Kariwa. The power plant’s construction started in January 1983, and power production started in April 1985 with an estimated 4,686 MW of capacity. The power plant’s capacity was increased to 8,212 MW in July 1997, making it one of the top nuclear power reactors in the world.
Powerplant Mihama Reviews
A power plant called Mihama can be found in Fukui, Japan. It is a nuclear power plant, and uranium is used as its main fuel source. 35.7024 Latitude and 135.9634 Longitude are its coordinates. The project was initially launched as the first of Japan’s large-scale nuclear power plants on November 15th, 1970. The Kansai Electric Power Company is the owner. The plant currently has a capacity of 826 MWe, which was added after facility expansion through an up-rating procedure.
Currently, it is thought that the Mihama Power Plant produces 5,278 GWh of power annually. It accomplishes this using cutting-edge multiple reactors. Under strict restrictions and safety precautions, the reactors were developed and engineered. The safety of production and the emission of pollutants have been addressed, and its long-term effects on the environment have been taken into account, as well as the local geography and population in the vicinity of the plant.
Powerplant Ohi Reviews
Ohi, a nuclear power plant in Japan, is situated at 35.5424 latitude and 135.6544 longitude and has a 4710 MW capacity. Although the majority of the original units have subsequently been retired out of safety concerns, the plant’s initial estimated generation capacity of 1240 MW was estimated when it initially opened in 1973. Natural gas, oil, and hydropower are used as backup fuel sources at the facility, which runs on nuclear energy as its major fuel source.
To make sure it is operating at the greatest safety standards, the plant completed a nuclear safety evaluation and many safety modifications in 2011. Despite these improvements, the facility has had a number of accidents since it first opened, the most recent of which was in 2015 when it had to be shut down because of a cooling water leak. In order to restore the facility to full operational capacity, thorough safety inspections and prosthetic repairs have been made since then.
Powerplant Onagawa Reviews
With a capacity of 2174 MW, the Onagawa nuclear power station in Japan is the largest. Its coordinates are 38.4 latitude and 141.5 longitude. The Onagawa power station, which started operating in 2002 and is expected to produce more than 15 TW h of electricity annually, uses nuclear energy as its main fuel source.
Nuclear fission, which was first identified by German physicist Otto Hahn in 1938, is the method through which nuclear energy, which is used in nuclear power plants, is produced. The fuel core of a nuclear power plant is uranium, which undergoes the fission process to separate into smaller atoms. A considerable amount of heat energy is released when the critical mass of uranium in the power plant is reached, causing an uncontrollable chain reaction. The steam created as a result of the heat energy is used to spin a turbine and generate electricity.
Powerplant Sendai Reviews
The Sendai nuclear power station is a 1780 MW electric nuclear power facility in Japan that began operating in March 2015. It is the first nuclear power station in Japan to resume after being nearly entirely shut down by the Fukushima disaster by 2013 and is situated in the coordinates 31.8335, 130.1887. The Sendai facility is situated in Kyushu, the southernmost island of Japan, and is owned and operated by Kyushu Electric Power Company. The Sendai plant runs primarily on nuclear energy and has two 890 MW Advanced Pressurized Water Reactors. The Nuclear Regulation Authority granted both reactors permission to restart in accordance with the 2013 revisions to the safety standards. In addition to producing an estimated 14.2 TWh of electricity annually, it is anticipated to power more than 1.7 million homes.
Powerplant Shika Reviews
Japan’s Ishikawa Prefecture is home to the Shika Nuclear Power Plant. This power station with a 1746 MW capacity is located on the coast of the Japan Sea at 37.0609 latitude and 136.7265 longitude. Nuclear energy is the main fuel utilized to produce power. On August 25, 1992, Shika Nuclear Power Plant’s first two reactors were connected to begin generating 1800 MW of energy. Its second reactor was connected in March 1996, bringing its capacity to 1746 MW.
Shika Nuclear Power Plant is capable of generating 22,200,000 megawatt-hours of power annually, according to estimates. The facility uses a cutting-edge nuclear energy generation system, which reduces its environmental effect and increases safety without requiring any direct CO2 output. Additionally, the power plant has safety procedures in place to prevent against any potential emergencies. Additionally, the building is built to manage crises and potential natural calamities.
Powerplant Shimane Reviews
The coordinates of the Shimane 820 Nuclear Power Plant are 35.5379 by 132.9991, in the southeast of Japan. The plant’s overall production reached 833 MW when it was fully operational in May 2008 after being built beginning in 1992. This plant uses nuclear energy as its main source of fuel, with diesel and natural gas as backup sources.
The Shimane Power Plant has been in service for more than ten years, with an estimated annual power generation output of 833 MW. The nuclear energy production facility has won multiple safety accolades and broken numerous records for power generation in Japan. The facility is crucial to the region’s energy supply and has a strong safety record when it comes to operations.
Powerplant Takahama Reviews
The Takahama Nuclear Power Plant may be found in the Japanese prefecture of Fukui at latitude and longitude of 35.5223 and 135.5036. This power plant, which has a 3392 megawatt capacity, has been operational since 1974. Nuclear energy is the main fuel used at the Takahama Nuclear Power Plant. Since the Nuclear Regulation Law of Japan was passed in 1999, Takehama has cooperated with the Nuclear Regulation Authority.
Some of the most affordable electricity in the Kansai regions is generated by the Takahama power plant. To comply with the new Nuclear Regulation Law’s requirements, the power stations underwent a number of safety modifications. The business has been given approval to restart its reactors in April 2020 as a result. The Takahama nuclear power plant uses cutting-edge technologies to increase efficiency, reduce CO2 and other emissions, and improve worker safety.
Powerplant Tokai Daini Reviews
The 1100 MW Tokai Daini Power facility, also referred to as the Kuroiso Plant, is a nuclear power facility in the Ibaraki Prefecture of northern Japan. The power plant was built in coordinates of 36.4215 latitude and 140.6028 longitude, respectively. Nuclear fuel is the main fuel utilized in Tokai Daini. Since the power plant began operating in 1983, it has been producing a sizable amount of electricity to fulfill the nation’s high levels of energy demand.
Although the use of renewable energy sources like solar and wind power has grown recently, nuclear power remains Japan’s main energy source. Approximately 15% of Japan’s total nuclear power output and 35% of the country’s total electricity generation, according to estimates, are produced at the Tokai Daini Power Plant. There haven’t been any significant incidents at the plant in the nearly three decades it has been in operation that have disrupted or damaged the environment.
Powerplant Tomari Reviews
A nuclear power station called Tomari with a 2000MW capacity is situated in Japan at coordinates 43.0367 latitude and 140.5125 longitude. Since its opening in 2000, it has been generating electricity. It is fueled by nuclear energy, which is what Tomari is primarily made of. It produces more than 15 billion kWh of electricity annually, according to estimates.
One of the major energy production hubs in Japan is the Tomari nuclear power station, which has undergone considerable safety and security enhancements throughout the years. It has also improved fuel economy, which has decreased operating costs, and improved waste management practices, which has decreased environmental emissions. The power plant has played a crucial role in Japan’s endeavor to encourage renewable energy sources as well as its transition to a low-carbon energy economy.
The Japan Atomic Energy Agency is in charge of the Tomari nuclear power station, which is run as a single facility. However, other power plants in the nation supplement Tomari’s output, enabling it to supply all of Japan’s electricity needs. Tomari, which has been in operation for 20 years, provides Japan with continuous energy and a dependable production system.
FAQ
Q. How are Nuclear Power Plants regulated in Japan?
A. To control the legal and safety framework governing nuclear power plants in Japan, the Nuclear Regulation Authority was founded in 2012. They are in charge of issuing the Construction Permits and conducting safety inspections of all nuclear sites. Security rules, radiation monitoring, and inspections all contribute to the nuclear power plant’s overall safety.
Q. What Nuclear Reactors have been used in Japan?
A. Pressurized water reactors and boiling water reactors, both built by General Electric, have been the two principal types of nuclear reactors utilized in nuclear power facilities in Japan. Additionally, there have been experimental reactors like Spreckels-1 and Edgu-2 or Edgu-3. Only pressurized water reactors are in use right now.
Q. How is waste from Nuclear Power Plants handled in Japan?
A. Japan’s nuclear power reactors create spent fuel waste, which is treated to minimize its bulk before being stored in a secure location. Depending on the quantities, it either goes to a storage facility or a recycling factory. Intermediate-level waste and low-level waste are the two categories used to describe radioactive waste. The latter comprises the majority of all nuclear waste kinds. Japan has set up the Radioactive Waste Management Center of Japan to manage and control the waste.
Q. What is the purpose of the Diet in Japan regarding Nuclear Power Plants?
A. The Diet, which is Japan’s legislative body, is in charge of passing regulations governing nuclear power plants there. The Japanese Diet is assisted in developing nuclear safety rules and regulations by the Nuclear Safety Commission of Japan. To regulate nuclear power plant safety, the commission is in charge of creating safety regulations and other control measures.
Q. How is Nuclear Power generated in Japan?
A. Nuclear fission is used to produce nuclear electricity in Japan. In a nuclear power plant, neutrons are used to split (fission) uranium or plutonium atoms in order to liberate energy. By heating water to the point where it becomes steam, this energy is used to generate thermal energy, which in turn powers turbines. Electricity is then produced by these turbines.
I hope you enjoyed reading the information on All Nuclear Power Plants in Japan above. If you did and have any feedback, please share it in the comments section.
Cory Combs is the Lead Writer and a key contributor at PowerPlantForum.com, a top resource for energy professionals and enthusiasts. With over a decade of experience in power plant operations and a degree in Electrical Engineering, Cory is a recognized authority in the field. His expertise in optimizing energy systems is informed by extensive hands-on experience and research. Follow Cory for the latest updates and expert insights on Instagram.