INTRODUCTION TO NUCLEAR POWER

Britain began experimenting in nuclear power in the 1940´s; the world´s first nuclear power station to produce electricity was Calder Hall in Cumbria, which opened in 1956.

Uranium is a naturally occurring radioactive element, left over from the Earth's formation. It can be used in nuclear power production because if a free neutron collides with the nucleus of a Uranium atom, the nucleus splits (fission) into two smaller atoms plus one free neutron.

This free neutron can then cause another fission to occur (a chain reaction). As the two new atoms weigh less than the original Uranium atom, an enormous amount of energy is also released.

The energy produced by the splitting of the Uranium nucleus in the power plant (the reactor) is used as a heat source. This turns water into steam, which drives a turbine. The turbine spins a generator to produce electricity. The reactor is sealed inside concrete and steel to prevent radioactive gases and fluids leaking from the plant.

To give an example of how much energy is produced, one nuclear fuel pellet about two centimetres long produces the same amount of electricity as one and a half tonnes of coal. (BBC)

There are 16 nuclear power plants in Britain and approximately 8% of Britain´s electricity comes from nuclear power. There are 173 nuclear reactors producing power in Europe with France being the most dependent, with around 78% of their energy coming from nuclear power.

Nuclear power produces enormous amounts of carcinogenic toxic radioactive waste, some of which is dangerous for thousands of years. No safe solution has yet been devised to store it. (CND)