Four nuclear plants see life extended

Four UK nuclear power stations are to see their operating life extended in a move the Government welcomed as a boost for energy security.

Heysham 2 in Lancashire and Torness in Scotland will keep producing electricity for an additional two years to March 2030, while Heysham 1 and Hartlepool will produce power until March 2027, an extension of one year.

Secretary of State for Energy and Net Zero, Ed Miliband, said EDF’s decision to keep the plants online is a “strong endorsement of our clean power mission”.

“These extensions are a major win for our energy independence – powering millions of homes for longer while supporting 3,000 good jobs. We can’t achieve clean power by 2030 without nuclear, which provides an all-important steady supply of homegrown clean energy,” he said.

Meanwhile, Britain’s first new nuclear reactor for more than 30 years has been installed at Hinkley Point C. The power station will provide Britain with 7% of its electricity.