The recently restarted No. 1 reactor at Kyuden’ Sendai Nuclear Power Plant (Satsumasendai City, Kagoshima began generating and transmitting power on Aug. 14. The move was heralded as an improvement in the power supply for Kyushu and the rest of western Japan’s 60-hertz grid, but it turns out Kyushu already had enough power. In the summer months, power companies in western Japan work together to ensure a stable supply of electricity, which is defined as 3% spare capacity, to the entire area. Before the Sendai restart, Kyushu already had 4.5% spare capacity, and now that number will increase to 5.5%. Critics claim Japan doesn’t need to bring its nuke plants back online, but the power industry says the reactors will become increasingly necessary as it phases out aging fossil fuel-burning plants. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun 8/15
