The Heysham 2 (Lancashire) and Torness (East Lothian) nuclear power plants will now keep producing zero-carbon electricity for an additional two years to March 2030, while Heysham 1 (Lancashire) and Hartlepool (Teesside) will produce power until March 2027, an extension of one year. All four nuclear facilities were due to cease generation by early 2023, which would have left the UK with just one generating nuclear plant, the Sizewell B (Suffolk) pressurised water reactor (PWR). Combined, the five generating stations currently supply about 14% of the UK’s electricity, according to EDF.

As well as bolstering energy security, the decision supports UK government plans for the rapid expansion of renewables by helping to maintain grid stability. The companies say it will also help limit the UK’s dependence on imported gas, with a further 45 TWh of output displacing around 9.3bn m³ of gas over the facilities’ extended lifetimes. That is the equivalent of 62 LNG tankers, more than 20% of last year’s LNG imports, they say.

‘There is no silver bullet that will achieve net zero, but a diversified energy system underpinned by nuclear power is a positive further step towards a greener, fairer future. We’re delighted that a further extension was possible, which allows us the time necessary to develop other zero carbon dispatchable electricity generation options such as new nuclear and hydrogen-fired generation,’ comments Chris O’Shea, Group CEO, Centrica.

Secretary of State for Energy and Net Zero Ed Miliband echoed this sentiment, saying: ‘We can’t achieve clean power by 2030 without nuclear, which provides an all-important steady supply of homegrown clean energy. This will come alongside our backing for new nuclear, including supporting the completion of Hinkley Point C, confirming £2.7bn for Sizewell C, and pressing on with contract negotiations for our small modular reactor competition.’

The lifetime extension decision follows the recent publication of the Clean Power 2030 report by the National Energy System Operator, which outlined the importance of AGR life extension in reaching the UK government’s clean power goals.

EDF reports it is planning to invest a further £1.3bn in the UK’s five generating stations over the next three years (2025–2027) on top of the £8bn 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.

According to EDF, there is also a ‘good opportunity’ to extend the lifetime of the Sizewell B nuclear power station for a further 20 years, out to 2055, although this ‘will require securing a sustainable commercial model before an investment decision is taken’.

First nuclear reactor for a generation is installed

The announcement came as workers building the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset, also a PWR, installed what is Britain’s first new nuclear reactor vessel for more than 30 years (see headline photo). The first of two 13-metre long reactor pressure vessels (RPVs) will produce enough energy to generate low-carbon electricity for three million homes, reports operator EDF. With two units, the power station will provide Britain with 7% of its electricity, it adds.

This major milestone comes less than 12 months after the huge steel dome was lifted in place to close the reactor building. The reactor is the first to be installed at a British power station since Sizewell B’s in 1991.

The RPV is a 500-tonne steel container that holds nuclear fuel used to make heat to produce steam for what is claimed to be the world’s largest turbine, from Arabelle Solutions (formerly GE Alstom Nuclear Systems). The RPV, manufactured by Framatome in France, arrived at Hinkley Point C in February last year and has been in store until the installation, which was completed last week.

The RPV was lifted on to rails and inserted through a 19.5-metre high equipment hatch, before being rotated by the large internal polar crane and lowered on to a support ring with just 40 mm clearance on either side. It will be flanked by four 25-metre high steam generators due to be fitted next year.