Fukushima aims for 100 per cent renewable energy by 2040
Japanese region devastated by 2011 nuclear disaster will see a coalition of community initiatives to transfer all its power supply to completely renewable sources
Fukushima, the Japanese region that was devastated by the 2011 nuclear disaster, has unveiled plans to be 100 per cent dependent on renewable energy by 2040.
The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant suffered a catastrophic meltdown three years ago after it was hit by a tsunami.
In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, the Japanese government decided to close the country’s entire nuclear fleet.
Prime minister Shinzo Abe has slowly began to relaunch Japan’s nuclear power programme amid a backlash of opposition and a recent survey carried out by Cardiff University indicates that 53 per cent of Japanese people wanted to see nuclear phased out, with 23 per cent calling for an immediate end to nuclear operations within the country.
A coalition of community initiatives in the Fukushima province is now hoping to transfer all its power supply to completely renewable sources by 2040.
The region already has an offshore wind farm, which was developed following the disaster. It hopes to expand so that 143 turbines will eventually boast 1 gigawatt (GW) of generation capacity.