Improvement in Japanese reactor performance
The average capacity factor of Japan’s nuclear power reactors over the past year has improved slightly with the return to service of two earthquake-affected reactors. Meanwhile, nuclear is expected to increase its share of Japanese electricity generation from 30% to around 40% over the next decade.
According to figures released by the Japan Atomic Industrial Forum (JAIF), the weighted average capacity factor of the country’s fleet of 54 power reactors, with a combined capacity of 48,847 MWe, was 65.7% during the year to the end of March 2010. This compares with an average capacity factor of 60% in the previous year.
All seven units at Tokyo Electric Power’s (Tepco’s) at Kashiwazaki Kariwa were shut down in July 2007 following a violent earthquake, removing some 7965 MWe from available capacity. After extended shutdowns for inspections and repairs, units 6 and 7 resumed operation in August and May 2009, respectively. The remaining five units remain offline.
JAIF notes that, excluding Kashiwazaki Kariwa units 1 to 5, the average capacity factor for Japan’s reactors in fiscal year 2009 would have been a more respectful 74.2%.
Some 277.5 billion kWh of electricity were generated by Japanese nuclear power plants in FY2009, up 7.5% on the 258 billion kWh generated in FY2008. It is the third consecutive year in which generation has been less than 300 billion kWh. Historically, nuclear power has provided about 30% of Japanese electricity and this is expected to rise to 40% by 2017.
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