Life extensions announced for four UK plants

EDF manages the UK’s eight nuclear power plant sites, five that are operating (Sizewell B, Torness, Heysham 2, Heysham 1 and Hartlepool) and three that have entered decommissioning (Hunterston B, Hinkley Point B and Dungeness B). It took over the sites when it acquired British Energy in 2009. The company is also constructing the new Hinkley Point C plant in Somerset, and there are advanced plans for a replica of Hinkley Point C at Sizewell C in Suffolk.

Heysham 1 and Hartlepool were due to move into defuelling in March 2026 based on a review in 2023. Heysham 2 and Torness were due to move into defuelling in March 2028 based on a review in 2021. However, EDF Energy has now announced a one-year life extension for Heysham 1 and Hartlepool, and a two-year extension for Heysham 2 and Torness.

“These dates are forecasts, and the precise dates will be determined by the results of regular graphite inspections and how those results are interpreted within EDF and by the independent regulator, the Office for Nuclear Regulation,” the company noted.

The company said the decision was taken “after a rigorous review process over the past seven months” and “a series of EDF executive, board and shareholder meetings on 3 December. This included endorsement from Centrica, as a minority shareholder in the fleet”.

EDF Energy said: “As well as bolstering energy security, the decision supports plans for the rapid expansion of renewables by helping to maintain grid stability. It also helps limit the UK’s dependence on imported gas, with a further 45 TWh of output displacing around 9.3 billion cubic metres of gas over the extended lifetimes. That is the equivalent of 62 LNG tankers, more than 20% of last year’s LNG imports.”

“Today’s decision is testament to EDF’s ongoing investment in the UK’s nuclear fleet and the hard work of the employees and suppliers supporting these sites,” said Mark Hartley, managing director of EDF’s Nuclear Operations business. “When EDF acquired these stations in 2009 they were all due to end generation by early 2023 which would have left the UK with just one generating nuclear station at Sizewell B. Careful stewardship and around GBP8 billion (USD10.1 billion) of investment since 2009 has seen several life extensions for these stations and much higher output than was predicted.”

EDF plans to invest a further GBP1.3 billion in the five operating nuclear power plants over the next three years (2025-27) on top of the GBP8 billion already invested since 2009 to safely extend operating lifetimes. “So far, the nuclear fleet has generated over 240 TWh more electricity than expected back then, enough zero-carbon electricity to power every UK home for two years,” the company noted.

The announcement of the lifetime extensions was welcomed by the UK’s independent energy system planner and operator, the National Energy System Operator (NESO). Last month, NESO released a comprehensive and independent analysis of how to achieve Clean Power in 2030. This advice was commissioned in August by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband. The report concluded nuclear will play an important role in the UK achieving a clean power system by 2030 and beyond with life extensions for the current fleet and a new generation of nuclear plants.

“I welcome today’s announcement from EDF on the plant life extensions,” said NESO CEO Fintan Slye. “NESO’s advice to the UK government on delivering clean power by 2030, and our Future Energy Scenarios, show the important role that nuclear power will play in the electricity system to 2030 and out to 2050.”

Just last week, the Britain Remade campaign group said hitting the UK’s target for a clean energy grid by 2030 will be “almost impossible” without extending the operation of some of the country’s nuclear power plants.

“EDF’s intentions are now clear,” Britain Remade CEO Sam Richards said. “Ministers and the Office for Nuclear Regulation now need to urgently back their plans to extend the life of existing reactors where it is safe to do so. We have done it before, and we can do it again. 

“With this announcement ministers must not take their eyes off the ball and continue to push for the rapid development of small modular reactors to run alongside their bigger cousins. They must also increase grid capacity and slash the time it takes for clean energy projects to get connected to the grid. Extending our existing reactors is a big step, but it’s not job done.”

Nuclear Industry Association Chief Executive Tom Greatrex welcomed EDF’s announcement, saying: “These extensions will cut bills, cut emissions, and protect jobs for communities that need them. They represent the single biggest contribution to Clean Power 2030 this year and are vital to propping up our shaky grid. The margin between us and blackouts is a few hundred megawatts, and these stations are 4700 megawatts.

“The AGRs are the most productive clean energy assets in our history and their extra output will cut over 9 billion cubic metres of gas use and save over 16 million tonnes of CO2. However, their generating lives can not be repeatedly extended – so as welcome as this news is – it is not a substitute for getting on and building new nuclear capacity at Sizewell C, a fleet of SMRs and a project at Wylfa to ensure a clean, secure, reliable power system for the long term.”