EDF Energy has stopped its 960 MW Hunterston B nuclear power plant in Scotland (United Kingdom). Hunterston B started generating electricity in 1976. In 2012, EDF extended the generating life of the plant out to March 2023. The Hunterston B power plant, which is owned by EDF (80%) and Centrica (20%), comprises two gas-cooled reactors (GCR), with a capacity of 475 MW and 485 MW. The plant had been shut down since March 2018 due to cracks in the graphite bricks that form the reactor core.
In December 2021, EDF Energy brought forward the closure date for two of its nuclear power plants, Heysham 2 (1,190 MW) in Lancashire and Torness (1,230 MW) in East Lothian (United Kingdom) from 2030 to 2028. The two nuclear power plants started to generate power in 1988. In addition, EDF Energy confirmed that its Heysham 1 and Hartlepool nuclear power plants would stop generating power as of 31 March 2024.
There were 13 nuclear reactors in operation for a total capacity of 8.1 GW in the United Kindgom at end-2020. Dungeness B (1,040 MW) was shut down in June 2021. Hinkley Point B (two gas-cooled reactors, 945 MW) is also due to be decommissioned in 2022. Eight other nuclear units are scheduled to be shut down between 2024 and 2030.
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