Heysham 1 Hartlepool Nuclear Stations Extended One Year UK

EDF Energy has extended the operational life of two UK nuclear power stations, Heysham 1 in Lancashire and Hartlepool in Teesside, by an additional year, now expected to run until March 2028. This decision follows comprehensive graphite inspections and assessments confirming the reactors' cores are performing well, enabling continued low-carbon electricity production to power over four million homes. The extensions help preserve more than 1,000 skilled jobs and support local economies through increased workforce demand during statutory outages. Centrica, which holds a 20% stake in both plants, welcomed the move, highlighting the importance of nuclear power in providing reliable, affordable, and zero-carbon electricity while supporting the UK's energy security and decarbonization goals. These life extensions add approximately 3 TWh of electricity to Centrica’s generation volumes through 2028 and align with broader investments, including Centrica's stake in the upcoming Sizewell C nuclear project. EDF remains committed to operating its Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor stations safely and commercially viably for as long as possible, contributing to the UK’s energy transition.