1954
First nuclear power stations supplying civil energy
The origins of civil nuclear power
In 1939, following on from the work of Marie and Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel, Frédéric Joliot, Hans Halban and Lew Kowarski demonstrated the production of two or three high-energy neutrons in uranium fission. They then envisaged the possibility of a chain reaction, and filed three fundamental patents in the name of the CNRS, which provided all the information needed to build a nuclear reactor.
Before becoming a source of energy for homes and industry, nuclear power was first developed as a technology for military purposes. The very first nuclear reactor, known as Chicago Pile-1, was commissioned in 1942 at the University of Chicago. Designed as part of the Manhattan Project, coordinated by Robert Oppenheimer, it was intended to produce plutonium for the manufacture of atomic bombs. French physicists were not involved in the project, and patents were not respected, prompting de Gaulle to ensure France's independence in this field by creating the CEA (Commissariat à l'énergie atomique) in 1945.
It wasn't until 1951, in the United States, that nuclear energy produced electricity for the first time, powering a few light bulbs at an experimental station in Arco, Idaho.
The first civilian power plants by country: a technological race
The conversion of nuclear power to civilian use is rapidly becoming a strategic global issue. Several countries embarked on a technological race to master this new energy source:
- 1954: the USSR commissions the Obninsk power plant, the first civilian nuclear power plant connected to the electricity grid.
- 1956: the UK starts up the Calder Hall power plant.
- 1957: the United States inaugurates the Shipping port power plant in Pennsylvania.
- 1963: France enters the scene with the Chinon A1 power plant, marking a turning point for its energy independence.
Each plant illustrates the technological choices and energy ambitions of its country, against the backdrop of the Cold War and industrial modernization.
Chinon A1: France's first nuclear power plant
Commissioned in 1963, the Chinon A1 power plant in Indre-et-Loire is the first civil nuclear facility to generate electricity in France. It uses a graphite moderator and carbon dioxide as a coolant (Uranium Naturel Graphite Gaz). Although its output remains modest, Chinon A1 marks France's official entry into the civil nuclear era. It became a symbol of national energy sovereignty, and initiated a series of developments that would lead to the creation of France's vast nuclear fleet in the following decades. This technology was abandoned in 1969 in favor of so-called second-generation reactors in 1969, similar to the technology used in the United States (PWR and BWR pressurized water reactors) and offering higher efficiency.
A global industrial turning point in the 1960s
The 1960s saw nuclear energy transition from the experimental stage to an industrial reality. Several factors explain this rapid development:
- The growth in global energy demand due to urbanization and economic expansion.
- The political will for energy independence, particularly in Europe.
- The improvement of nuclear technologies, making reactors safer and more efficient.
- International competition, which drives major powers to invest massively.
Nuclear energy thus becomes a pillar of industrial development, providing abundant and relatively cheap energy. It is also the time when major companies in the sector, such as EDF in France or General Electric in the United States, emerge as key players. The production of nuclear energy has developed since this period and is now used in around thirty countries.
Legacy and debates surrounding civil nuclear power
While civil nuclear power has enabled an unprecedented industrial boom, it has also given rise to numerous debates. The disasters at Chernobyl (1986) and Fukushima (2011) have rekindled concerns about safety. And yet, nuclear power remains a key component of the energy transition for many countries, particularly in the face of climate change. Its history, marked by technological innovations and strong political choices, continues to shape the debate on the energy of the future.
FAQ - History of civil nuclear power
When was the first nuclear-generated electricity produced?
In 1951, at an experimental station in Idaho, USA.
What was the world's first civil nuclear power plant?
The Obninsk plant in the USSR, commissioned in 1954.
Why is the Chinon plant so important?
It marks the beginning of civil nuclear power in France and symbolizes French energy independence.