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Life of Scotland’s last nuclear power plant extended by two years

Pabio December 4, 2024

Four of Britain’s five nuclear power stations – including one in East Lothian – will stay open longer than planned, their operator has said.

French energy company EDF announced on Wednesday that sites in Lancashire, East Lothian and Teesside would remain open for longer following a seven-month review process.

Heysham Two, in Lancashire, and Torness, in East Lothian, will continue to generate electricity for a further two years, until March 2030.

Heysham One and another station at Hartlepool, in the north-east of England, will produce electricity until March 2027, a one-year extension.

The sites were due to close in 2026 and 2028 and the extensions mean more than 3,000 jobs will also be maintained for longer.

EDF owns and manages Britain’s nuclear fleet after purchasing the power stations in 2009. British Gas owner Centrica also has a 20% stake.

The move comes after a government-commissioned report revealed that the UK would need its nuclear fleet to remain operational for longer than expected to meet Labour’s target of decarbonising the electricity grid by 2030.

The rapid rollout of renewable energy planned by Labor is expected to help increase demand on the electricity system.

The report from the National Energy System Operator (Neso), the agency that keeps the lights on, says nuclear sites will be needed to keep the grid stable.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the move was “a strong endorsement of our clean energy mission”.

He said: “These extensions are a major victory for our energy independence – powering millions of homes while supporting 3,000 good jobs across Lancashire, Teesside and East Lothian.

“We cannot achieve clean energy by 2030 without nuclear power, which provides a constant and crucial supply of clean, locally produced energy. »

EDF has announced it will invest a further £1.3 billion on sites over the next three years to safely expand its operations.

So far, the nuclear fleet has produced more than 240 terawatt hours of electricity, enough to power every British home for two years.

Sizewell B, Britain’s fifth nuclear power station, also operated by EDF, is a different type of plant and was not examined as part of this process.

However, EDF said it was also possible to extend this plant for another 20 years until 2055 if necessary.

Mark Hartley, managing director of EDF’s nuclear business, said that when the company bought the sites they “were all due to end production by early 2023, which would have left the UK with a single production nuclear power station at Sizewell B”.

He added: “Careful management and around £8 billion of investment since 2009 has resulted in the lifespan of these stations being extended many times over and production much higher than expected. »

Neso chief Fintan Slye backed the decision on Wednesday, adding that the agency’s recent report had shown “the important role that nuclear power will play in the electricity system through 2030 and into 2050.”

Centrica boss Chris O’Shea added that the extension is “essential to the UK’s security of supply and the country’s net zero ambitions”.

He said: “In an energy system that is becoming increasingly intermittent, baseload electricity generation that does not rely on sun and wind is essential to keep the lights on. »

O’Shea added: “We are delighted that a further extension has been possible, giving us the time we need to develop other carbon-free dispatchable electricity generation options, such as new nuclear and hydrogen generation. .

“We need to act faster to ensure these replacement technologies are deployed on time. »