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8. Energy
- ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute
- Chapter
- Additional Information
205 8 EnErgy Mely Caballero-Anthony, Kevin Punzalan and Koh Swee Lean Collin As East Asia rapidly develops, greater demands are being placed on governments to efficiently supply energy to sustain economic growth. Simultaneously, public awareness of environmental issues has placed new imperatives on energy planning. To meet these challenges, the concept of sustainable development must be incorporated into energy security strategies in order to balance the three priorities of energy security, economic growth and environmental protection. Alternative energy forms a cornerstone of such a strategy. From a brief examination of the contemporary developments in alternative energy sources in East Asia, this chapter shows that the use of “nuclear renaissance” for describing the energy future of the region is still premature, given that progress in this field has not been uniform and has largely stagnated. Instead, renewable energy developments show better progress and hold greater promise for East Asia. Instead of a “nuclear renaissance”, a “renewables renaissance” may be taking hold in the region. lurKiNG uNCErtaiNtiES Continuing debates on energy security have been affected by two important global developments. First, the December 2009 Copenhagen Summit failed to reach a global consensus on a concrete plan to curb carbon emissions. As such, socioeconomically driven national self interests have led many states to focus on national-level carbon emissions reduction and energy efficiency strategies. 206 Non-Traditional Security in Asia Second, as the world economy has begun to recover, it may lead to increasing energy demand. Since this increase follows patterns of population growth and development in Asia, many energy economists point to the long-term upward trend in energy prices. Michael Quah from Singapore’s Energy Studies Institute has forecast that rising energy prices will continue despite erratic hydrocarbon prices and an uneven economic recovery.1 East asia at the “3Es” Crossroads For rapidly-growing East Asia in particular, given the increasing energy demand and continued price volatility of fossil fuels, continual reliance on just hydrocarbons is no longer sustainable for economic development. Moreover, the need to mitigate climate change means that energy has to be harnessed in an environmentally sustainable manner. These interrelated dynamics constitute an energy-economic-environment (also known as the “3Es”) nexus which can only be fruitfully resolved through sustainable development, in which energy diversification could play a pivotal role in satisfying rising demands, circumvent supply volatility and mitigate climate change through the employment of cleaner, alternative energy sources. Setting the Scene Nuclear energy carries considerable appeal in East Asia. However, whether the much touted “nuclear renaissance” has taken place in the region remains debatable. Problems regarding waste disposal and nuclear proliferation among a range of nuclear concerns continue to be salient. This thus points to an indispensable need to explore possible alternatives. To date, gradual economic recovery has spurred revival of interest in renewable energy (RE) sources. To explore how far either technology has progressed in terms of acceptance and implementation in East Asia, a comparison between developments in nuclear energy and progress in implementing RE projects will be outlined. NuClEar rENaiSSaNCE iN EaSt aSia? Since the late 1990s to early 2000s, it has been widely claimed by some scholars and industrial leaders that East Asia is on the throes of experiencing a “nuclear renaissance”. With the race to develop alternative energy now in momentum, prospects for nuclear energy appear bright, as Mr Kenji Uenishi, President of GE Energy Asia Pacific, remarked in mid-February 2010 about the “massive potential for nuclear energy in this region”. [54.152.43.79] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 12:52 GMT) Energy 207 According to the World Nuclear Association (WNA), “nuclear renaissance” implies a revival of the nuclear power industry that has been lying dormant or in decline for some time.2 Various factors are thought to drive this “nuclear renaissance”, such as increasing energy demand, climate change, economic considerations and the security of supply. However, a point to note is that, according to WNA, “no revival of nuclear power is possible without the acceptance of communities living next to facilities and the public at large, as well as the politicians they elect”.3 The problem of public acceptance has appeared to be the stumbling block for “nuclear renaissance” in some East Asian nuclear energy aspirants. Following the east Japan earthquake and tsunami on 11 March 2011, the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant experienced a series of equipment failures, nuclear meltdowns and release of radioactive materials, which has led to a debate over the use of nuclear power in...