Although it is difficult to believe today, Great Britain was the first nation in the World to build a grid scale nuclear power plant - Calder Hall.
It was decided by the UK Government to proceed with the civil nuclear power programme in 1952, and construction at Calder Hall began the following year and was carried out by Taylor Woodrow Construction using 1950s engineering and construction techniques and was officially opened on 17 October 1956 by Queen Elizabeth II.
Originally designed for a life of 20 years from respectively the plant was after 40 years until July 1996 granted an operation licence for a further ten years.
The station was closed on 31 March 2003, the first reactor having been in use for nearly 47 years.
That's what over half a century of "managed decline" does for you!
Although it is difficult to believe today, Great Britain was the first nation in the World to build a grid scale nuclear power plant - Calder Hall.
It was decided by the UK Government to proceed with the civil nuclear power programme in 1952, and construction at Calder Hall began the following year and was carried out by Taylor Woodrow Construction using 1950s engineering and construction techniques and was officially opened on 17 October 1956 by Queen Elizabeth II.
Originally designed for a life of 20 years from respectively the plant was after 40 years until July 1996 granted an operation licence for a further ten years.
The station was closed on 31 March 2003, the first reactor having been in use for nearly 47 years.
That's what over half a century of "managed decline" does for you!
Construction and operation of Calder Hall
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYeCotEJj1M&t=440s