U.K. Extends Life for Oldest Nuclear Reactors

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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--The U.K.'s oldest operational nuclear power plants have had their lives extended by an extra year on top of previous extensions to boost the country's energy security.

Heysham 1 in Lancashire and Hartlepool in Teesside are now expected to generate electricity until March 2028, a further year than previously expected. French operator Electricité de France (EDF) (Paris, France) said the decision was taken following a series of "positive graphite inspections at both stations over the past nine months." Mark Hartley, managing director of EDF's Nuclear Operations business, said: "I am pleased we have been able to confirm a further 12 months of operation for Heysham 1 and Hartlepool. Extending the life of these stations makes sense. It secures employment for longer for more than 1,000 people who work at those sites, and it supports the U.K.'s ambitions to have a clean, secure electricity supply. A further year of operation for these two stations has the potential to power more than four million homes and reduce the need for imported gas."

Both plants, which use Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors (AGRs), were commissioned in 1983 and had an expected operational life of 25 years. EDF took over the U.K.'s nuclear fleet in 2009 and has managed to extend the lives of its plants beyond the original estimates on a number of occasions. In December 2024, EDF extended the lifetimes of all four of its generating stations with Heysham 1 and Hartlepool getting an extension to 2027. The others, Heysham 2 and Torness, are both scheduled to generate power until March 2030 after being granted two-year extensions last year. The Labour-led U.K. government has promised a new dawn for nuclear power. Industrial Info is tracking 28 nuclear power-related projects in the U.K. worth US$87 billion. Almost US$76 billion is accounted for by three grassroot projects: Hinkley Point C, Sizewell C and Bradwell B. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can click here for the reports.

Today, the U.K. has nine operational AGR reactors across four sites which supply around 15% of the country's power. All are expected to be shut down by the end of the decade. They are needed in part until the EDF-developed Hinkley Point C nuclear plant, which has suffered numerous setbacks, is completed and commissioned. As the only new nuclear power project in the U.K., it will use two European Pressurized Reactor-2 (EPR2) reactors from EDF with a combined generating capacity of 3,300 megawatts (MW), capable of supplying 7% of the country's electricity needs, or 6 million homes. Costs have been rising ever since the project began, and there have been notable delays. In February, Industrial Info reported that Hinkley Point C was facing new delays of up to four years and a potential price hike of up to a third, bringing the eventual cost to £46 billion (US$58.4 billion), more than twice the original estimate. The company is now aiming for a start date for its Unit 1 reactor by the end of the decade, instead of 2025.

Industrial Info is also tracking plans for a new identical plant at Sizewell C in Suffolk, England. In July, EDF agreed to invest up to 1.1 billion pounds (US$1.5 billion) for a 12.5% stake in the project. A final investment decision is expected later this summer. For additional information, see July 21, 2025, article - EDF Takes $1.5 Billion Stake in Sizewell C Nuclear Project. It comes after a decision by the U.K. government earlier this summer to commit £14.2 billion (US$19 billion) to its construction, promising a "golden age" for nuclear power. For additional information, see June 16, 2025, article - U.K. Commits $19 Billion to New Nuclear Plant.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).