History of energy supply in Fukushima Prefecture

History of Energy Supply​

• Before the Great East Japan Earthquake, our prefecture was the largest power-supplying prefecture in Japan with a multitude of power plants including hydroelectric, thermal, and nuclear power plants in operation. The prefecture supplied approximately one-third of the electricity consumed by the Tokyo metropolitan area, which includes Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures.
• This rich history dates back to the Meiji era when power stations, particularly hydroelectric ones, were constructed throughout the prefecture to support the development of modern industries such as mining and manufacturing. Significant milestones, such as the groundbreaking transmission of electricity to Tokyo through high-voltage power lines, were achieved during the Taisho era and beyond.
• In the 1950s, ambitious projects for large-scale hydroelectric development were undertaken in the Tadami River basin as part of the national Tadami River Specific Regional Comprehensive Development Plan, aimed at expanding power supply to the metropolitan area.
• Subsequently, in response to the rising domestic energy demand and the call to reduce reliance on crude oil following the oil shock, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO)'s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (located in Okuma Town and Futaba Town) commenced operations in 1971, followed by the company's Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Station (located in Naraha Town and Tomioka Town) in 1982, supplying electricity to the metropolitan area.
• In the aftermath of the devastating Great East Japan Earthquake that occurred on March 11, 2011, and subsequent the Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident which led to a major disaster, the prefecture established the "Vision for Revitalization in Fukushima Prefecture" in August of the same year, aiming to achieve the revitalization of Fukushima from the earthquake and nuclear disaster. One of the fundamental principles of this vision is to build a safe, secure and sustainable society free from nuclear power.
• Currently, the decommissioning work of the Daiichi Nuclear Power Station is being carried out by the national government and TEPCO based on the Mid-and-Long-Term Roadmap formulated by the government. As for the Daini Nuclear Power Station, decommissioning work has been progressing according to the decommissioning plan that was finalized in September 2019.
• Moreover, the prefecture has set a goal to generate 100% or more of its energy demand from renewable sources by around 2040 as it aspires to become a pioneering region in renewable energy.

【Entire landscape of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station construction site】	【Entire landscape of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station】

（Source: "Overview of Atomic Energy Administration in Fiscal Year 2010" by Fukushima Prefecture​）