[en] This list presents a compilation of nuclear power plants/reactors by name of the facility, country and power generating capacity

[en] Ten years have elapsed since the world's first nuclear power station began to supply electricity in Russia, and this in turn marked the end of a twelve year stage following the first controlled nuclear chain reaction at Chicago. These periods mark major stages in the development of atomic energy from the realm of abstract ideas to that of everyday industrial application. They followed a period of fundamental research and laboratory work, culminating in Enrico Fermi's demonstration of a system whereby the forces of the atom could be brought under control. Then it was necessary to find ways and means of using the chain reaction for practical purposes and on an industrial scale. And after this had been shown in 1954 to be technically possible, it had still to be developed into an economic process. The nuclear power station has proved itself from the technical and engineering standpoint. The third phase of development has been to bring it to the stage of being economically competitive with alternative sources of energy, and it would appear that we are now reaching that goal - though more slowly than had been envisaged ten years ago

[en] This list presents a compilation of nuclear power plants/reactors by name of the facility, country and power generating capacity

[en] More and more nuclear power reactors are coming into operation in different parts of the world. In June 1962, 19 power stations utilizing five reactor types with a total capacity of 1600 MW were in operation in six countries. By the end of this year there are expected to be 55 stations in ten countries with a total capacity of 4500 MW. In another three years the total capacity is likely to go up to 9500 MW, and at the end of the present decade to 15 000 - 18 000 MW. Many developing countries are interested in determining the most advantageous time for starting power reactor programmes. The data required for such a decision cannot be summarized in a single document, but some guidance in the analysis and interpretation of such data can be obtained from a consideration of the technical status of different power reactors, their cost aspects, the materials required for nuclear power production, and the steps to be taken by a country interested in a nuclear power programme. The power reactors to be considered may be divided into three broad categories: (a) those already in commercial use, (b) those considered promising for the near future, and (c) those based on advanced concepts, whose suitability for industrial use still needs extensive technological and experimental development

[en] During the last regular session of the IAEA General Conference, the Agency organized, on 20 September 1962, a public meeting at which leading personalities in the national atomic energy programmes of six Member States described some of the important aspects of these programmes, especially in the field of nuclear power. The speakers were Professor V.S. Emelyanov, Deputy Chairman, State Committee for the Utilization of Atomic Energy, USSR; Dr. G.C. Laurence, President, Atomic Energy Control Board, Canada; Sir Roger Makins, Chairman, Atomic Energy Authority, United Kingdom; Professor Francis Perrin, High Commissioner, Atomic Energy Commission, France; Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg, Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, USA; Dr. I.H. Usmani, Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, Pakistan

[en] When will atomic power start to play its part in earnest; that is, when will a significant fraction of new power plants be based on nuclear systems? This is in my opinion the key question today. It is still early to try to give a definitive answer, but recent developments in the nuclear power field now make it still more urgent to give this question thorough consideration. In order to do so it is necessary to make a survey of the need for power as it exists now and as it is likely to develop in the future; one must also find out what possibilities exist to meet this demand from known energy reserves or such reserves as can be expected to be available in the future. Such a survey made on a global basis will give a balanced picture, but the conclusions obtained in such a way cannot, of course, be applied to individual and local situations. If it were to be proved that our reserves will be insufficient, nuclear power would clearly seem to have an important role in meeting the need, but it is at the same time of the utmost importance to find out if energy reserves hidden in the world's resources of uranium and of thorium are adequate or if technological development can make them so

[en] An international panel of experts appointed by the Agency's Director General, after examining costing methods in detail, has recently produced a report entitled 'Introduction to Methods of Estimating Nuclear Power Generating Costs'. The report is intended to help the Agency's Member States, particularly those which are less-developed in nuclear technology, in making a preliminary economic assessment before the construction of a nuclear power station. It gives a description of the different cost items involved in a nuclear power project, some suggestions as to the extrapolation of available data, and an evaluation of different methods of allocating the costs to the units of energy produced

[en] Full text: (Professor Whitmann was Secretary-General of the 1955 Conference). The dramatic lifting of the Iron Curtain, which had for decades sealed off communication between East and West, was the outstanding feature of the first United Nations International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy in 1955. Many scientists had doubted that a truly scientific meeting would be permitted by governments, and had predicted that science would be submerged by political propaganda. Could this United Nations initiative be a creative instrumentality toward realizing that 'Open World' which Niels Bohr advocated with such eloquence? The Conference fully lived up to Mr. Hammarskjold's hopes that it would inaugurate a new era in intercommunication. Participating scientists were enthusiastic over the opportunity for direct association and discussion in a professional atmosphere, without significant political intervention. To laymen everywhere, the knowledge that the world's scientific elite was exchanging information and ideas about nuclear energy, with the purpose of developing its potential benefits to mankind, was most heartening. Here was long-delayed evidence of international co-operation. Papers and seminars on pure science were, naturally enough, more in evidence than those on engineering applications, both because of the relative state of knowledge and because of reticence to disclose engineering 'know-how' to potential competitors. Furthermore, it is quite evident in retrospect that the prospects for economical nuclear power at an early date were over-estimated by the enthusiasts. Even so, the creation of a body of informed opinion was an essential step to stimulate further research, design and sound economic analysis for the eventual development of useful power from the atom. A most significant initiative of this Conference was the recruiting of an international group of scientists within the staff of the United Nations to plan, to guide and to operate the Conference. This group of 'Scientific Secretaries', consisting of 22 men from 14 nations with differing ideologies, was absolutely vital to the success of the enterprise. The competence and loyalty which all of these men devoted to the challenging task which they faced well demonstrated the tremendous potential which exists for effective international co-operation in the service of mankind. (author)

[en] This report outlines the basic design principles and features of a versatile analyser for investigating the characteristics of dynamic systems such as nuclear power plants. (author)

[en] A report prepared by the IAEA Secretariat and presented to the seventh session of the Agency's General Conference says that information on nuclear power costs is now rapidly moving from the domain of uncertain estimates to that of tested factual data. As more and more nuclear power stations are being built and put into operation, more information on the actual costs incurred is becoming available. This is the fourth report on nuclear power costs to be submitted to the IAEA General Conference. The report last year gave cost information on 38 nuclear power projects, 17 of which have already gone into operation. Certain significant changes in the data given last year are included-in the present report; besides, information is given on seven new plants. The report is divided into two parts, the first on recent developments and current trends in nuclear power costs and the second on the use of the cost data for economic comparisons. Both stress the fact that the margin of uncertainty in the basic data has lately been drastically reduced. At the same time, it is pointed out, some degree of uncertainty is inherent in the assumptions made in arriving at over-all generating cost figures, especially when - as is usually the case - a nuclear plant is part of an integrated power system