«Данное сообщение (материал) создано и (или) распространено иностранным средством массовой информации, выполняющим функции иностранного агента, и (или) российским юридическим лицом, выполняющим функции иностранного агента»
Topic: Nuclear Energy Blog Brand: Energy World Region: Americas, and Asia Tags: COP28, Fukushima, Japan, Nuclear Plant, Nuclear Waste, and Yucca Nuclear Energy Now – Japan Restarts the World’s Largest Nuclear Power Plant January 23, 2026 By: Emily Day
Share
Nuclear Energy Now tracks the latest nuclear energy developments across technology, diplomacy, industry trends, and geopolitics.
Japan Restarts the World’s Largest Nuclear Power Plant
Japan has begun a phased restart of the world’s largest nuclear power plant, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, following approval from local authorities for a partial restart of reactors 6 and 7. Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant is the largest nuclear facility globally by potential capacity, 8.6 gigawatts (GW), and is operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO). The plant had been offline since 2011, when Japan shut down its nuclear fleet following the disaster at Fukushima. While the regional governor granted approval, public opinion remains divided: surveys show roughly 60 percent of local residents oppose the restart, compared with 37 percent who support it. Reactor number 6, with a capacity of about 1.35 GW, is TEPCO’s first reactor to resume operations since Fukushima and is undergoing a phased restart under Japan’s safety rules, including enhanced tsunami defenses, elevated emergency power systems, and additional security requirements. TEPCO aims to return reactor 6 to full commercial operations later next month and plans to have reactor 7 resume operations later this decade. Beyond energy security and decarbonization goals, the restart has financial implications for TEPCO, which is shouldering not just the costs of decommissioning the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant but also compensating those affected and funding decontamination efforts. Reportedly, the company estimates that just one reactor could improve its profitability by roughly $630 million annually by reducing imports of fossil fuels.
The Trump Administration Signals a New Approach to Nuclear Waste
For decades, the nuclear energy industry in the United States has faced the unresolved question of what to do with nuclear waste. In 1987, the Department of Energy (DOE) designated Yucca Mountain as the country’s single repository, investing billions before the project was stopped by President Barack Obama. Since then, DOE has focused on consent-based siting and has not introduced new plans for a permanent disposal site. And while support for nuclear energy has improved over the years, local opposition to waste storage has remained a persistent political barrier. Now, to meet President Donald Trump’s goal of reaching 400 GW of nuclear energy capacity by 2050, the administration is signaling a more transactional approach to the issue. The Department of Energy is expected to invite interest from US states on non-binding deals that would offer incentives—for example, industrial projects, capital investment, and jobs—for waste storage, reprocessing, and uranium enrichment.
Nuclear Energy Could Surpass the Declaration to Triple Capacity
At the United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai in December 2023, more than 20 countries signed a declaration to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050. But according to the latest World Nuclear Outlook Report from the World Nuclear Association (WNA), government plans for nuclear energy already exceed that target. The report—which examines current nuclear capacity, reactors under construction, and government targets and goals—finds that global generating capacity could exceed the declaration to triple nuclear energy, reaching 1,446 gigawatts electric (GWe) by 2050 if national targets are met. Today, roughly 440 reactors operate across 31 countries, supplying 397 GWe, with another 70 reactors under construction, adding 77 GWe and locking in strong near-term growth. The more challenging issue emerges beyond 2035, where expansion will depend on proposed reactors and government-led programs. This growth would likely be led primarily by China, France, India, Russia, and the United States, which together are projected to represent 980 GWe of global nuclear capacity in 2050, while nuclear newcomers reach just 157 GWe. To meet these goals, WNA urged governments to take immediate action, sustain political and financial support, and for experienced nuclear energy states to closely collaborate with emerging economies.
About the Author: Emily Day
Emily Day is an experienced researcher, writer, and editor with expertise in geopolitics, nuclear energy, and global security. She is an associate editor of Energy World and Techland at The National Interest and a senior research associate at Longview Global Advisors, where she provides insights on global political and economic trends with a specialization in utilities, risk, sustainability, and technology. She was previously a Della Ratta Energy and Global Security Fellow at the Partnership for Global Security.
Image: Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO)/IAEA / wikimedia commons
The post Nuclear Energy Now – Japan Restarts the World’s Largest Nuclear Power Plant appeared first on The National Interest.
Источник: nationalinterest.org