The history of nuclear power began in Europe, blossomed in the UK and the US. Its development then languished for a few decades before achieving a new growth spurt in East Asia. Major milestones in nuclear power's development as an energy source for power generation are as follows:
1895
Wilhelm Rontgen
Wilhelm Rontgen discovers X-rays.
1896
Henri Becquerel
Henri Becquerel discovers radioactivity.
1898
Marie Curie
Marie Curie discovers the radioactive element radium and names its effect "radioactive".
1905
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein formulates a theory showing that a very small amount of mass can be converted into a huge amount of energy - (E=mc2).
1911
Ernest Rutherford
Ernest Rutherford proves that the atomic nucleus is concentrated at the very centre of an atom.
1932
James Chadwick
James Chadwick discovers the neutron.
1938
Otto Hahn & Fritz Strassman
Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassman discover nuclear fission – the process of splitting uranium atoms.
1942
Enrico Fermi
Enrico Fermi starts the world’s first fission reactor experiment in Chicago, U.S.
1951
Idaho
The first nuclear reactor to produce electricity begins operations in Idaho, U.S.
1954
Obninsk
The first nuclear power electricity generator at 5MW commences production in Obninsk, Russia.
1956
Calder Hall Nuclear Power Station
The first commercial-scale power station, at 50MW, comes online at Calder Hall, U.K.
1957
IAEA
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is established to promote the peaceful use of atom.
1957
Shippingport
The first power station using a Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR), at 60MW, is opened at Shippingport, US.
1960
Yankee Rowe Nuclear Power Station
The first commercial PWR, Yankee Rowe, becomes operational in the US. It has 250MW and is the first in a new generation of nuclear power stations with standard design features built to a commercial scale.
Photo: NRC File Photo1979
Three Mile Island Accident
A nuclear accident damages a reactor core at Unit 2 of Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant in the US.
The US forms the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations to address issues of safety and performance and disseminate good practices among peer utilities.
Learn more about the accident
1986
Chernobyl Accident
A nuclear accident damages reactors in Unit 4 of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station in the Ukraine, leading to the widespread of radioactive fallout. The World Association of Nuclear Operators is formed to disseminate good practices among nuclear utilities globally.
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1994
Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station
Mainland China’s first commercial nuclear power station at Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station is commissioned. The 1,968MW PWR facility supplies 70% of the electricity it generates to Hong Kong.
Photo: TEPCO1996
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station
The first third-generation boiling water reactor nuclear power station with 1350MW boiling water reactor and passive safety system is commissioned at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa in Japan.
2000
High-temperature Gas-cooled Reactor
A high-temperature gas-cooled 10MW demonstration reactor is commissioned at Tsinghua University in China. The reactor is an emerging technology offering both improved safety and higher performance.
2010
Fast Reactor
China’s first experimental Fast Reactor, at 25MW, becomes operational at the China Institute of Atomic Energy and promises to make much more efficient use of nuclear fuel.
Photo: TEPCO2011
Fukushima Accident
A nuclear accident occurs at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in Japan after a Richter Scale 9 earthquake and 15m high tsunami disables electric power in five of the plant’s six generating units. Units 1 to 3 of the plant appeared to have automatically scrammed at the earthquake, but the loss of electric power (including back-up supply) for reactors cooling eventually led to the meltdown of the nuclear reactors. Reactors and spent fuel pools lost their cooling capabilities. This in turn led to hydrogen explosions. Radioactivity was subsequently dispersed into both the atmosphere and the sea. Three workers were killed by non-radiation-related causes. Around 100,000 people up to 40km were evacuated.
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