ABSTRACT
The first nuclear power station was opened by the Queen on October i 7, 1956, at Calder Hall in Cumberland. It was the first large-scale nuclear plant in the world to produce electric power. It proved that it is possible to use the energy from nuclear fission, i.e. atom-splitting, in place of coal or oil for generating electricity. It was still more expensive than coal or oil, but with experience the cost is expected to come down.
