The development of nuclear energy in the power supply to the Federal German Republic

With the object of reducing the dependence of power supply on mineral oil, and to cover for long periods the increasing power requirement in the future, nuclear energy has an important part to play. In this the contribution to covering the power requirements of the Federal German Republic will increase from the present 2%, to 13% to 16% in the year 1985. The contribution to the whole generation of electricity will increase in the same period from approximately 7.5% to about 40%. The development of light-water reactors began with the construction of the experimental atomic power station at Kahl in the year 1951 and reached its present peak when the nuclear power-station block unit Biblis A was taken into operation. The light-water reactors, due to their state of development and their economic advantages, will continue to take over in the future the greater part of the additional output of nuclear power stations. With the introduction of the fast breeder the energy content of the uranium reserves will be increased many times. The utilisation of the heat from high-temperature reactors for refining coal makes it possible for nuclear energy to gain admission into the gas and heating market and offers new applications for coal reserves inside the country. (orig.)