1 research outputs found
The Fukushima Disaster and Japan’s Nuclear Plant Vulnerability in Comparative Perspective
We
consider the vulnerability of nuclear power plants to a disaster
like the one that occurred at Fukushima Daiichi. Examination of Japanese
nuclear plants affected by the earthquake and tsunami on March 11,
2011 shows that three variables were crucial at the early stages of
the crisis: plant elevation, sea wall elevation, and location and
status of backup generators. Higher elevations for these variables,
or waterproof protection of backup generators, could have mitigated
or prevented the disaster. We collected information on these variables,
along with historical data on run-up heights, for 89 coastal nuclear
power plants in the world. The data shows that 1. Japanese plants
were relatively unprotected against potential inundation in international
comparison, but there was considerable variation for power plants
within and outside of Japan; 2. Older power plants and plants owned
by the largest utility companies appear to have been particularly
unprotected