History of Nuclear Power

History of Nuclear Power


1896
Antoine Henri Becquerel discovers radioactivity.		 Antoine Henri Becquerel
1898
Marie und Pierre Curie discover the decay of the element radium into other elements, emitting ionising radiation.		 Marie und Pierre Curie
1911
Ernest Rutherford develops his theory of the structure of the atom and the radioactive decay. On the basis of this theory, Nils Bohr develops later a model of an atom.		 Ernest Rutherford
1938
Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann succeed in demonstrating the fission of the uranium atom.		 Otto Hahn
1939
Joliot, Halban and Kowarski identify the neutrons released during nuclear fission which initiate a chain reaction. Liese Meitner and Siegfried Flügge calculate the orders of magnitude of the energy released during nuclear fission.		 Liese Meitner
1941
Under the direction of  Werner Heisenberg and Walther Bothe, the "Uranverein" (Uranium Club) constructs a research reactor in which no self-sustaining chain reaction can be produced until the end of war (1945).		 Werner Heisenberg
1942
Enrico Fermi and his staff design and construct the first nuclear test reactor. With the CP-1, they create the first controlled chain reaction.		 Enrico Fermi
1951
On 20th September, EBR 1 in Idaho, United States, becomes the first experimental reactor to produce electricity from nuclear energy.		 EBR 1 in Idaho
1953
US President Dwight D. Eisenhower announced the "Atoms for Peace" program to the United Nations General Assembly. 		  
1955
When the Federal Republic of Germany achieved sovereignty, it was possible work on the peaceful utilisation of nuclear energy. Under Federal Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, the Federal Government of the period created the Federal Ministry for Atomic Issues on 16 October and on 26 October appointed Franz-Josef Strauss as the first Minister for Atomic Affairs.		  Franz-Josef Strauß
1956
Construction of nuclear research centres in Hamburg, Jülich, Geesthacht, Berlin and Karlsruhe.		  
1957
On 31st October, the research reactor of the Technical University of Munich - the "nuclear egg" - is put into operation as first reactor in Germany. The European Atomic Energy Community EURATOM was established on 25 March and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was established on 29 July.		 Nuclear Egg 1957
1958
Formation of the Reactor Safety Commission (Reaktorsicherheitskommission - RSK) by order of the Federal Minister for Atomic Energy (August).		  
1959
The Atomic Energy Act was promulgated in the Federal Republic of Germany It was the legal basis for the construction and operation of nuclear power plants.

The German Atomic Forum (Deutsches Atomforum e.V.) was established on 26 May and created a platform for business, science and politics with the aim of promoting the peaceful utilisation of nuclear energy. 		  German Atomic Forum event
1960
The Atomic Energy Act came into force on 1 January, the first Radiation Protection Ordinance on 1 September.

Start of work on the fast breeder project in Karlsruhe.		  
1961
On 7 March the first self-built German reactor (FR-2) was put into operation at the Karlsruhe Nuclear Research Centre. The heavy water reactor was operated with natural uranium.

In June 1961 the Kahl experimental nuclear power plant (VAK) fed electricity produced using nuclear energy into the national grid for the first time in the Federal Republic of Germany. The VAK was a boiling water reactor of American design with 16 MW output.		 Kahl NPP
1966
The research centre Kernforschungszentrum Jülich generates the first chain reaction in Germany with a high-temperature reactor.

The EUROCHEMIC reprocessing plant in Mol (Belgium) was put into operation with German participation.

The Rheinsberg nuclear power plant (70 MW), a pressurised water reactor of Soviet design was put into operation in the GDR.		  
1967
The experimental program for storage of radioactive waste started in the Asse salt mine. Between 1967 and 1978 around 124,500 drums containing low active waste and 1,300 drums containing medium active waste were placed into storage in the Asse mine shaft.

The AVR with 15 MW output, the first high temperature reactor developed in Germany, was put into operation in Jülich.		  
1968
The Obrigheim pressurised water reactor fed electricity into the power supply system for the first time.		  
1969
The German Nuclear Society (Kerntechnische Gesellschaft e.V.) was established on 14 April: An association of scientists, engineers and other experts with the aim of supporting progress in nuclear technology.		  
1971
Beginning of final disposal of radioactive waste material at the Morsleben repository (ERAM).

Commissioning of the Karlsruhe reprocessing plant (WAK) on 7 September.		 Morsleben repository
1972
The commercial nuclear power plants of Stade and Würgassen (light water reactors) started to supply electricity. The Niederaichbach nuclear power plant was put into operation. The gas-cooled heavy water-moderated pressure tube reactor had an output of 100 MW.		 Stade NPP
1973
Construction of the fast breeder reactor began in Kalkar.

The first (of five in total) unit of the Greifswald nuclear power plant was put into operation.		  
1974
The world`s first 1,200-MW unit is started up in Biblis.		 Biblis NPP
1975
The 12 utilities operating or planning nuclear power plants join to establish the Projektgesellschaft Wiederaufbereitung von Kernbrennstoffen mbH (PWK) for the reprocessing of nuclear fuels.

Site occupation of the planned Wyhl nuclear power plant.

Foundation of the Informationskreis KernEnergie. 		 
1976
The Biblis B, Neckarwestheim I and Brunsbüttel nuclear power plants were put into operation.

Anti-nuclear power plant demonstrations in Brokdorf

The Konrad mine shaft was set up for the exploration and experimental storage of radioactive waste.		  Brunsbüttel NPP
1977
After various, pre-service experimental set-ups, the first German reactor of the fast breeder type (KNK II) was put into operation at the Karlsruhe Nuclear Research Centre.

Anti-nuclear power plant demonstrations in Kalkar.

The Isar I nuclear power plant was put into operation on 3 December.		  Isar NPP
1978
The Unterweser nuclear power plant was put into operation on 29 September.		  Unterweser NPP
1979
On 28 March an accident occurred in the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant near Harrisburg, USA. The core partially melted down. The containment structure functioned as intended.

On 5 May the Philippsburg 1 nuclear power plant was put into operation.

International Gorleben hearing on the safety of nuclear waste management facilities. Start of exploration of the Gorleben salt dome as a final repository for high active waste.		  KTG Chairman Prof. Karl Heinz Beckurts and Federal Chancellor Helmut Schmidt
1981
Start of deep drilling in the Gorleben exploratory mine.

Violent mass demonstration in Brokdorf.

The Grafenrheinfeld nuclear power plant was put into operation on 30 December.		  Gorleben
1982
Laying of the foundation for the first large-scale uranium enrichment plant in the Federal Republic of Germany in Gronau.

Planning permission application for "Konrad Mine".		  Konrad Mine
1983
The first controlled nuclear fission took place in the THTR-300 thorium high temperature reactor.

The National Metrology Institute (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt PTB) granted the BLG (Brennelementlager Gorleben GmbH) the storage licence for the Gorleben interim storage facility pursuant to Section 6 of the Atomic Energy Act.

The Krümmel nuclear power plant was put into operation on 28 September. 		  Krümmel NPP
1984
The Gorleben interim storage facility was put into operation with emplacement of low active waste by Brennelementlager Gorleben GmbH (BGL) as were the Gundremmingen B, Gundremmingen C, Grohnde and Philippsburg 2 nuclear power plants.		 Grohnde NPP
1985
1st nuclear partial licence for construction of the Wackersdorf reprocessing plant.		  
1986
On 26 April the most serious accident to date in the history of the peaceful utilisation of nuclear energy occurred in unit four of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the former Soviet Union.

Large-scale demonstration against construction of the Wackersdorf reprocessing plant.

Establishment of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Reactor Safety (BMU).

An SPD party conference resolved to phase out nuclear energy within 10 years.

The IAEO Convention on Early Warning of a Nuclear Accident and the Precautionary Radiation Protection Act passed by the German Bundestag came into force.

The Brokdorf nuclear power plant was put into operation on 14 October.		  Brokdorf NPP
1987
The PTB granted Brennelement-Zwischenlager GmbH (BZA) the licence for storage of spent light water fuel assemblies.

Federal Minister for the Environment Töpfer introduced an integrated measuring and information system for permanent monitoring of environmental radioactivity (IMIS) which was installed in the Federal Republic of Germany and was to be extended.		  Brennelementlager Gorleben GmbH (BGL)
1988
The prototype demolition of a nuclear power plant (Niederaichbach) was started.

The Isar 2 and Emsland nuclear power plants were put into operation.		  Emsland NPP
1989
The Neckarwestheim II nuclear power plant went into operation on 3 January.

The Federal Government resolved that reprocessing in the member states of the European Communities secured by long-term contract could be accepted as part of the integrated waste management concept. Building work on the Wackersdorf reprocessing plant was halted.

The World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) was established in Moscow to increase the safety of nuclear power plants by means of a global exchange of ideas and experience.

The Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) began work. The amended Radiation Protection Ordinance came into force. 		 Neckarwestheim NPP
1990
The first nuclear partial licence was granted for the construction of the Gorleben pilot conditioning plant (PKA).

The Atomic Energy Act became applicable throughout Germany due to the accession of the new federal states. The Soviet designed Rheinsberg and Greifswald nuclear power plants were shut down.		  
1991
The European Energy Charter was signed in The Hague. It was intended to lay the foundations for restructuring of Europe?s energy economy.		  
1992
Start of the storage of spent THTR/AVR fuel elements at the spent fuel interim storage facility Ahaus.		  
1993
After 75 days of negotiation, the debate within the plan approval procedure of the Konrad mine ends.		  
1994
MOX processing in Hanau was halted. The legislative authority then also facilitated "direct final disposal" of spent fuel assemblies.		  Minister for Economic Affairs Dr. Günther Rexrodt at the Annual Meeting on Nuclear Technology in Stuttgart
1995
Start of storage at the spent fuel storage facility Gorleben. (first Castor transport).

Decision is made on the decommissioning of the Würgassen Nuclear Power Plant.		  Castor flask
1997
Interruption of Castor transports.		  
1998
Following the halting of operations, the shutdown procedure for the Morsleben final repository for radioactive waste (ERAM) was introduced.

The coalition agreement between the SPD and the Green Party resolved to phase out nuclear energy.		  Coalition agreement 1998: Gerhard Schröder and Joschka Fischer
2000
On June 14, the Federal Government and the utility companies initial an agreement about the future operation of the German nuclear power plants. The utilities commit themselves to producing only a certain residual amount of electricity in their nuclear power plants; in return the Federal Government promises that these plants will be able to operate undisturbed.
Agreement on June 14. 2000
 
Gorleben exploration mine: From 1 October a moratorium of no less than three but no more than ten years.

On December 15, the final unit still in operation at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant - Unit 3 - is closed down for good.		  Roland Koch, Prime Minister of Hesse, at the Annual Meeting on Nuclear Technology in Bonn
2001
The agreement initialled on June 14, 2000 by the Federal Government and the German utilities is signed on June 11.		  
2002
The contents of the agreement are implemented in the new version of the Atomic Energy Act.
The new version of the Atomic Energy Act (in German) 		 
2003
The Stade Nuclear Power Plant is decommissioned on November 14 for commercial reasons.		 Stade NPP
2005
The Finnish government granted the nuclear licence for the construction of the first third-generation reactor, Olkiluoto 3, on 17 February.

The Obrigheim nuclear power plant was shut down on 11 May.

China, the European Union, India, Japan, Korea, Russia and the USA resolved the construction of the ITER fusion reactor in Cadarache (France) on 28 June 2005.

Processing of methodological, conceptual and safety-related questions regarding exploration of the Gorleben salt dome.		 Olkiluoto (Model)
2007
The licence for the "Konrad mine" achieved legal validity on 3 April on passing of the resolution by the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig. According to the Federal Office for Radiation Protection, construction should be completed in 2013.

The French government granted the licence for construction of the EPR in Flamanville on 10 April.

The Southwest German Association for Research and Lecturing in Nuclear Technology (Südwestdeutsche Forschungs- und Lehrverbund Kerntechnik KIT) was established on 22 October.

The Institute for Final Repository Research was established at the TU Clausthal on 5 November.		 Günther H. Oettinger, Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg at the Annual Meeting on Nuclear Technology in Karlsruhe
2008
The German section of Women in Nuclear (WIN) was established on 1 October. 		 Wolfgang Clement, Minister for Economics (retired), at the Winter Conference of the German Atomic Forum
2009
The Federal Office for Radiation Protection became the operator of the Asse II mine shaft.

On 24 February, the Federal Office for Radiation Protection granted the licence for the storage of HAW glass canisters from the Karlsruhe reprocessing plant to ZLN Zwischenlager Nord (Interim Storage Repository North) and Energiewerke Nord (Electricity Suppliers North).

Tenth Act amending the Atomic Energy Act of 17 March 2009 (PDF).

50th anniversary celebrations of the German Atomic Forum on 1 July in Berlin.		 Dr. Angela Merkel, Dr. Walter Hohlefelder, Dieter H. Marx (Photo: Guido Bergmann)