EDF confirm Heysham nuclear plant to generate power until March 2028

EDF has announced that the Heysham nuclear power stations will continue generating for an extra 12 months until March 2028.  

The energy provider also confirmed that another site in Hartlepool has also been given an extension until the same time.

The decision was taken following a series of positive graphite inspections at the stations over the past nine months.  

The two power stations were due to move into defueling in March 2027 based on a review in December 2024.

Dr 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 UK’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.”  

In December 2024, EDF extended the lifetimes of all four of its generating Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor (AGR) stations.

At that time Heysham 1 and Hartlepool were given a one-year extension on the basis that there were a number of important inspection and safety case milestones due in 2025.

Positive progress in these areas has supported the decision to extend the lifetime by an additional 12 months.  

Heysham 2 and Torness, which are both scheduled to generate until March 2030, were not in scope for this review after a two-year extension was granted last year.  

EDF’s ambition is to continue making zero-carbon electricity at its four generating Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor (AGR) stations for as long as it is safe and commercially viable to do so and will keep station lifetimes under review.

The Heysham 1 site has approximately 530 full time employees and more than 200 full time contract partners.

Since 1983 it has generated 243 TWh of zero carbon electricity.