1950s: Pioneers and explorers
The world’s first full-scale commercial nuclear power station
Pioneering research came to fruition with the world’s first full-scale commercial nuclear power station at Calder Hall, Windscale, the design of which led to ten further British Magnox power stations.
Dounreay in Caithness became the UK centre for fast reactor research and development. The Windscale Pile reactor fire occurred in 1957 and led to many safety, technical and regulatory improvements for the industry.
Dounreay Construction
Dounreay in Caithness became the UK centre for fast reactor research and development from 1955. The ‘iconic’ spherical Fast Reactor and Materials Testing Reactor both started in the late 1950s. Fast reactors are unique in that they create more fissile nuclear material (plutonium) than they consume and are thus also called breeder reactors.
The Windscale Pile fire – 1957
The Windscale Pile reactor fire occurred in 1957 and was the worst UK nuclear accident. The fire started from spontaneous combustion due to overheating, with the operators managing to bring the situation under control. It led to many safety, technical and regulatory improvements for the industry and better community relations throughout the UK.
UKAEA
The UKAEA was the focal point of the nuclear industry from 1954 until 2005 when the NDA took over.
Key events of the 1950s
1956
Calder Hall – world’s first nuclear power station connected to the National Grid.
