Experience with the peaceful use of nuclear energy

After a brief historical review of the most important steps in the commercial utilization of nuclear energy, the operating experience gained with nuclear plants in the western world is discussed. This discourse centres around questions dealing with the availability as power supplier, with accidents, radiation exposure and waste disposal for various types of reactors. The extent and type of nuclear reactor accidents to date (above all of the accident in the Three Mile Island plant which was the most dangerous in the world) are debated with reference to the safety aspects of the power plants in the Federal Republic of Germany, including their treatment in the mass media. Finally the special role played by the human factor (i.e. the qualification of the operating and maintenance personnel) in the highly automated reactor safety systems is explained. (orig.)