Japan turns on planet’s biggest nuclear plant at its second attempt

Japan has restarted the world’s biggest nuclear power plant after resolving an alarm issue that halted a previous attempt in January, marking a major step in the country’s return to nuclear energy since Fukushima

Japan has reactivated the world’s largest nuclear power facility, with operator Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) confirming that the Kashiwazaki‐Kariwa plant in Niigata was brought back online today (Monday).

This marks the first significant move towards returning the enormous facility to operational status since the nation halted nuclear power following the devastating 2011 Fukushima catastrophe, when a massive earthquake and tsunami caused meltdowns at three reactors.

An earlier restart attempt at Niigata in January lasted just one day before TEPCO shut it down after an alarm was triggered. This time around, the company insists the problem has been fixed.

China’s crazy flying starfighter carrier, ‘coral’ found on Mars, man vs bear, and a human population gaffe – all this and more in our latest weird science newsletter

The alert had detected slight variations in electrical current on a single cable – though still within accepted safety parameters, officials explained at a press briefing last week – leading engineers to adjust the alarm thresholds, reports the Mirror.

TEPCO is now planning a thorough examination, with commercial operations scheduled to begin on or after 18 March if all systems pass inspection.

Kashiwazaki‐Kariwa boasts seven reactors, making it the world’s biggest nuclear installation. TEPCO had originally attempted to restart one unit on January 21 before the automatic safety system triggered a shutdown the following day.

Today’s reboot signifies a cautious yet substantial return to nuclear power for a nation that once heavily depended on atomic energy, only to abruptly abandon it following the Fukushima disaster.

Officials argue that the case for nuclear energy has become more compelling. Japan aims to drastically reduce its reliance on imported fossil fuels, achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, and ensure a steady power supply as the demand from energy-intensive artificial intelligence increases.

Fresh off a resounding election victory, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is throwing her political support behind nuclear power to “energise” the economy and stabilise the power grid.

Japan’s decision comes at a time when the global demand for reliable, low-carbon power is increasing, and nations are vying for energy security.

Experts contend that reactivating existing nuclear capacity can reduce emissions faster than constructing new fossil-fuel plants, and can help meet the skyrocketing electricity needs of data centres and AI, while renewable energy sources continue to expand.