EDF to keep turbines running at Heysham 1 and Hartlepool power stations

The nuclear power stations are set to keep pumping out electricity for an extra two years

Two nuclear power stations in the North of England are set to keep generating energy for longer, EDF has announced.

Heysham 1 in Lancashire and Hartlepool in Teesside were due to end generation in 2014 but have been extended to March 2026, thanks to significant investment and positive inspections of the graphite reactor cores.

This decision is expected not only to reduce reliance on imported gas but also to safeguard the jobs of 2,000 workers.

Matt Sykes, Managing Director of EDF’s Generation business hailed the move as crucial to supporting the country’s energy needs – he said: “Supplying zero-carbon and affordable electricity, whatever the weather, has never been more important than right now.”

Reacting to the news, Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, said: “These extensions will provide a huge boost to the UK’s short-term energy security.

“More nuclear baseload will relieve some of the pressure on the grid, cut gas imports and cut carbon.

“Alongside life extensions for our existing stations, we still need a new fleet of large-scale and small-scale reactors to ensure our energy security for the long-term.”

Make sure you check out the latest Net Hero Podcast episode:

Latest Podcast