Energy

A bit of history

The instability of nuclei and the freeing of ionising radiation (each electromagnetic radiation capable of producing ionisation in atoms or molecules of the body it goes through, i.e. the ejection of an electron from the atomic structure with the ensuing creation of a pair of ions, positive and negative) is present naturally but it started being considered from the scientific viewpoint only on the occasion of the study of the x rays conducted by Roentgen in 1895. During the 20th century vital research was conducted leading to the atomic fission. First of all, in 1934 Mr. and Mrs. Curie identified the first case of artificial radioactivity. In 1942, after a series of “home-made” experiments in the legendary Roman institute in Panisperna street, the Italian physic Enrico Fermi carried out the first fission experiment under controlled conditions. Thus, the first nuclear reactor was created at the University of Chicago. That research belonged to the effort made by the American scientists which three years after led them to manufacture and drop the first atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima (80,000 killed instantly). After the world war, in 1954, the first electro-nuclear power plant – albeit moderately powerful (5 megawatt) – started operating in the Soviet Union. The first nuclear power plant aimed at the production of electric energy to be sold on the market dates back to 1956 and was built near Calder Hill, in England. During the second half of the last century the production of electric energy from nuclear fuel increased up to 17% of the world energy production. In particular, at the end of 1996, the world counted 439 operating nuclear power plants and 43 being built. The United States has the largest nuclear capacity in the world (29%), followed by France (18%) and Japan (12%). In terms of percentage contribution of nuclear energy to the production of household electric energy, Lithuania is in the lead (83%) followed by France (77%9, Belgium (55%) and Sweden (46%). In the last years the development of nuclear energy was negatively influenced by several factors: the reduction of investments in this field; the Chernobyl nuclear accident (1986); the poor development of waste disposal techniques; the growing difficulties faced by some countries in operating and maintaining the older power plants and finally the latest accident which took place in 1999 in Japan. Following a referendum, in July 1990 Italy completely abandoned the use of nuclear energy to produce electric energy and the two nuclear power plants existing at the time were decommissioned.