The Prospect of Nuclear Power after Fukushima Daiichi Accident in an Emerging Global Energy Crises

The purpose of this paper is to review the effect of Fukushima Daiichi accident on world nuclear power and the progressive growth the industrial had enjoyed from April, 2011 till January, 2015. The paper specifically considers the new reactors connected to the grid within the period, the ongoing constructions of new power plants worldwide licenced after the accident and stringent safety measures taken by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to routinely check the existing reactors and incorporate during the design of new one in a bit to forestall future occurrences. The study remarkably showed that nuclear power industry has risen above the Fukushima Daiichi accident with an addition capacity of 18, 053 MW(e) generated from 21 nuclear reactors connected to the grid between April, 2011 and January, 2015. Moreover, 24 new reactors of combined capacity 22, 581 MW(e) licenced within the period are under construction. These new reactors are mostly advanced pressurized water reactors (PWR) of improved safety system. This marginal shift from generation II to generations III and III+ reactors with passive safety systems shows a confirmation of positive step towards achieving safe and reliable nuclear energy. From the study, it could be reliably assert that the contribution of nuclear energy to world energy mix is not debatable and more importantly, nuclear energy still remains safe even in the Fukushima challenges, cost-effective and very reliable source of base load power that will play a pivotal role in both global economic prosperity and a clean environment.