The History of Nuclear Energy in France
Historical Overview
France’s relationship with nuclear power and research spans over 100 years. From the very first discovery of natural radioactivity by scientist Antoine Henri Becquerel to the Curie family legacy of nuclear research, the creation of the Commissariat a l’Energie Atomique to the 59 active nuclear reactors in the country today, it is fair to say that the French have a longstanding fascination with nuclear energy.
The Beginning of France's relationship with Nuclear Energy
Prior to World War I, France developed a fascination with nuclear energy due to the ground-breaking research conducted by the Curie family legacy. In 1945, the interim government of France led by Charles de Gaulle created the Commissariat a l’Energie Atomique (CEA) government agency and Nobel Prize laureate Frederic Joliot-Curie was appointed as its first high-commissioner.
The purpose of the CEA was to conduct fundamental and applied research within the fields of nuclear reactor design, manufacturing of integrated circuits and use of radionuclides for medical treatments as well as several others. However, nuclear research was suspended indefinitely shortly after the creation of the CEA due to political instability and the rebuilding of France’s government following the second World War.
France’s main electric utility company, Electricite de France was founded on April 8th, 1946 as a result of the unification of about 1,700 smaller energy producers, transporters and producers. (amba). In 1956, a partnership began between CEA and EDF to develop the first French commercial nuclear reactor. In 1964, the first nuclear power reactor EDF1 in France was operational at Chinon on the Loire river.
France’s relationship with nuclear power and research spans over 100 years. From the very first discovery of natural radioactivity by scientist Antoine Henri Becquerel to the Curie family legacy of nuclear research, the creation of the Commissariat a l’Energie Atomique to the 59 active nuclear reactors in the country today, it is fair to say that the French have a longstanding fascination with nuclear energy.
The Beginning of France's relationship with Nuclear Energy
Prior to World War I, France developed a fascination with nuclear energy due to the ground-breaking research conducted by the Curie family legacy. In 1945, the interim government of France led by Charles de Gaulle created the Commissariat a l’Energie Atomique (CEA) government agency and Nobel Prize laureate Frederic Joliot-Curie was appointed as its first high-commissioner.
The purpose of the CEA was to conduct fundamental and applied research within the fields of nuclear reactor design, manufacturing of integrated circuits and use of radionuclides for medical treatments as well as several others. However, nuclear research was suspended indefinitely shortly after the creation of the CEA due to political instability and the rebuilding of France’s government following the second World War.
France’s main electric utility company, Electricite de France was founded on April 8th, 1946 as a result of the unification of about 1,700 smaller energy producers, transporters and producers. (amba). In 1956, a partnership began between CEA and EDF to develop the first French commercial nuclear reactor. In 1964, the first nuclear power reactor EDF1 in France was operational at Chinon on the Loire river.
The People of Nuclear Energy's History
Antoine Henri Becquerel
A Parisian scientist who discovered spontaneous radioactivity and won the Nobel Prize in 1903 in the field of Physics for his scientific work. Charles de Gaulle
From his humble beginnings as a solider in World War I, de Gaulle proved his bravery as a resistance leader of France during World War II. His bravery and tenacity were recognized and he served as the president of France from 1959-1969. |
Pierre and Marie Curie
Perhaps the most famous scientific couple in the entire world, Pierre and Marie Curie are best known for their groundbreaking work on radioactivity. Their research led to the development and discovery of the elements radium and polonium. Marie passed away from leukemia as a result of her prolonged exposure to radiation. Frederic Joliot-Curie
The son-in-law of Pierre and Mari Curie, Joliot-Curie became France's first High Commissioner for Atomic Energy. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in the field of Chemistry for his work done on "artificial radioactivity". |
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Jasper, James M. Nuclear Politics: Energy and the State in the United States, Sweden, and France. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton UP, 1990. Print.
"Nuclear Energy in France." France in the United States/ Embassy of France in Washington. 13 July 2012. Web. 13 Nov. 2014. <http://ambafrance-us.org/spip.php?article637>.
Jasper, James M. Nuclear Politics: Energy and the State in the United States, Sweden, and France. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton UP, 1990. Print.
"Nuclear Energy in France." France in the United States/ Embassy of France in Washington. 13 July 2012. Web. 13 Nov. 2014. <http://ambafrance-us.org/spip.php?article637>.