Nuclear Power Generation

To assist in providing a stable supply of energy and mitigating climate change, Toshiba Group will contribute to reducing CO₂ emissions through the provision of truly safe and secure nuclear power generation.

Contributing to a Stable Energy Supply and the Mitigation of Climate Change

The global primary energy demand is predicted to increase to about 1.3 times the current level by 2030.*¹ At present, we depend on fossil fuels for about 80% of our energy supplies. Meanwhile, the use of fossil fuels presents serious problems, including climate change and resource depletion, making it more and more difficult to depend on these sources for our energy supplies. Although solar power and wind power are expected as sources of clean energy, they are unlikely to become conventional energy sources because of their economic performance and supply stability.

Nuclear power generation is capable of producing a large amount of energy without emitting CO₂ during operation. While it is estimated that fossil fuels will only be available for about 100 more years, uranium, which is a reprocessable nuclear fuel, is estimated to be available for use as energy for as long as 3,000 years.*² By building a 1.35 GW nuclear power plant instead of a conventional coal-fired thermal power plant and by operating the plant at 80% of capacity, we will be able to achieve an annual reduction of as much as 9 million tons of CO₂.*³ Toshiba Group has been engaged in the construction of 112 nuclear power plants in ten countries around the world, thereby contributing greatly to reducing CO₂ emissions.

*1

Source: World Energy Outlook 2010

*2

Source: Graphical Flip-chart of Nuclear & Energy Related Topics 2011, Japan Atomic Energy Relations Organization

*3

Calculated based on a comparison of CO₂ emissions from coal-fired thermal power generation and from nuclear power generation. Source: Graphical Flip-chart of Nuclear & Energy Related Topics 2011, Japan Atomic Energy Relations Organization

Support for Post-Earthquake Restoration

Multi-function robot developed for the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

Transforming the site into a green field

Efforts are still underway to stabilize the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant which was seriously damaged by the March 11, 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Toshiba Corp. established an emergency task force immediately after the earthquake and company employees have been united in their efforts to bring all available knowledge, including technologies from Westinghouse and other overseas companies, to stabilize the plant as soon as possible. In order to minimize the release of radioactive materials and reduce the radiation dose rate around the plant, we are implementing various measures, including treating contaminated water and working to stabilize the nuclear reactors and spent fuel pools at low temperatures. We are also providing various measurement and automation technologies, including robots, to reduce the load of those working toward restoration.

To formulate a comprehensive management plan, Toshiba Corp. also held discussions regarding post-earthquake restoration with four U.S. companies that worked on the recovery after the Three Mile Island accident before submitting our plan to the Tokyo Electric Power Company. Our plan aims to transform the current plant site into a green field in ten years (earliest possible estimate) by using available technologies to decommission the nuclear power plants. We will continue to make follow-up proposals and to develop the technologies required to implement such proposals.

Safety Standards for the Future

As stated earlier, we believe that nuclear power generation is necessary to ensure a stable power supply to meet growing demands for electricity. We also believe that there will continue to be demand for nuclear power generation worldwide even after the earthquake. In China, Westinghouse has concluded a contract for building four advanced pressurized water reactors (AP1000™) and is currently constructing these reactors. We have also concluded a contract for building six AP1000™ reactors in the U.S. and are now constructing four of those reactors. In the U.S., we also concluded a contract for building two advanced boiling water reactors (ABWR) and are working to obtain the permissions required for construction. In Japan, we are participating in the construction of Electric Power Development Co., Ltd.'s Ohma Nuclear Power Plant.

We will take an active part in international safety assessments made based on the lessons learned from the accident at the Fukushima- Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant as well as from reviews of safety standards conducted to minimize the number of severe accidents caused by external events. We will reflect these standards in our designs for new plants and renovate plans for operating plants to continue our efforts toward the highest levels of safety performance.

Construction of the Sanmen Nuclear Power Station in Zhejiang Province, China

• Nuclear Energy Systems & Services Division (A separate window will open.)