The French energy group EDF has unveiled plans to invest £1.3bn (€1.5bn) over the 2024-2026 period to extend the life of its nuclear fleet located in the United Kingdom to maintain current output levels (37.3 TWh in 2023) until at least 2026.
EDF aims to extend the life of the Torness, Heysham 1 and 2 and Hartlepool advanced gas-cooled reactor (AGR) plants (four of its current five operational nuclear plants in the UK). Besides the concerned plants, EDF also owns the Sizewell B, which is also in consideration for a 20-year life extension, and the Hunterston B, Hinkley Point B and Dungeness B plants that are currently in the defueling phase, the first stage of decommissioning. EDF aims to maintain output from the four AGR stations for as long as possible and extend Sizewell B by a further 20 years, out to 2055. The extension is still subject to inspections and regulatory approvals and a final investment decision is expected to be taken on this during 2025.
EDF has made an investment of £7.5bn (€8.7bn) in its eight nuclear power stations since its acquisition of British Energy. It has also achieved the lifetime extension of the Heysham 1 and Hartlepool nuclear power units until 2026 (combined capacity of 2.34 GW), a 35% increase in electricity generation equivalent to an extra output of 212 TWh since the acquisition.
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