After Japan and Germany took the plunge on decommissioning all nuclear power plants, it appears Europe is increasingly on board, too. According to a report by Global Data, Europe expects to deactivate up to 150 nuclear power plants by 2030.
The decision was triggered by the Fukushima disaster last year. These European closures will account for as much as 69% of the world’s expected nuclear reactor deactivations by 2030.
Meanwhile in the United States, life extensions have been granted to 71 nuclear plants and only five are expected to close between 2012 and 2030. Canada will shut down 17 plants.
So far, over 200 nuclear power stations around the world are expected to close by 2030, nearly half of those currently operating. It’s no secret that the Fukushima disaster has played a large role in decisions to do this, even in the midst of debate regarding whether nuclear power is needed in order to quickly lower world carbon emissions. The plants are considered necessary by some in transitioning from fossil fuels, but after long–lasting damage has been done by the Fukushima disaster in Japan, it’s obvious why so much of the public wants nuclear plants shut down.
See? When enough of the public wants something to happen, things really can get done fairly quickly.
Image CC licensed by Peretz Partensky: Nuclear power plant