Energy · 1951
First nuclear electricity
An Idaho breeder reactor lights four bulbs with atomic power.
Experimental Breeder Reactor I generated the first electricity from nuclear energy on 20 December 1951, and later proved a reactor could breed more fuel than it burned. It launched both nuclear power and fast-breeder research.
What it built on 1
What it led to 1
Related measurements
The dashed line marks when it first worked.
Nuclear electricity generation Latest: 2.81k TWh (2025) Source: Our World in Data
Share of electricity from low-carbon sources Latest: 42.6 % (2025) Source: Our World in Data