Uneven Distribution of Nuclear Power Plants and Earthquakes in Japan

― A Consideration of Problems arising from an Earthquake in the Tokyo area ―

Abstract

On March 11, 2011, a big earthquake (today named the Great East Japan Earthquake) hit north-east Japan. Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station suffered from the disaster, with part of its main buildings destroyed. The other power stations throughout the country stopped work one after another, and have been out of operation up to now (August, 2014). Taking into account increasing costs of fossil fuel, and worsening air pollution with emission of more carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas, restart of nuclear power generation will be desired. In view of the fact that about 60% of the power plants are located on the Pacific coast, there would be a lot of power shortages if a big earthquake directly hit the Tokyo area. In order to prevent shortages, it may be necessary that plants situated on the Japan Sea side should resume operation as soon as safety has been reconfirmed. In this article I will consider how unevenly nuclear power stations are distributed and dispersed, and what problems this irregular location poses to us, by making simulations of what effects an earthquake in the Tokyo area will have on nuclear plants in the TEPCO area.