Nuclear power's down but not out after Fukushima
Fission may suddenly be out of fashion. But the world cannot afford to scrap plans for advanced, new-generation reactors
The crisis at Japan's Fukushima-Daiichi plant has triggered a reassessment of nuclear energy safety. But many countries will find it hard to shun a technology that is pivotal to meeting electricity demand and cutting carbon emissions. While the reactor withstood March's earthquake, shutting down as it was supposed to, the ensuing tsunami swamped the plant, causing the failure of the generators powering equipment designed to stop the radioactive core from overheating. The resulting radiation release, following a series of explosions, appeared to be relatively minor (at the time of writing), but has unsettled public sentiment towards nuclear power around the world. Faced with long-term grounds
Also in this section
9 January 2026
A shift in perspective is needed on the carbon challenge, the success of which will determine the speed and extent of emissions cuts and how industries adapt to the new environment
2 January 2026
This year may be a defining one for carbon capture, utilisation and storage in the US, despite the institutional uncertainty
23 December 2025
Legislative reform in Germany sets the stage for commercial carbon capture and transport at a national level, while the UK has already seen financial close on major CCS clusters
15 December 2025
Net zero is not the problem for the UK’s power system. The real issue is with an outdated market design in desperate need of modernisation
