EDF keeps four UK nuclear power plants operating longer than planned

Stay informed with free updates

You can sign up to myFT Digest of UK Energy delivered straight to your inbox.

French state-owned energy giant EDF will keep four of Britain's aging nuclear power plants operating longer than planned to strengthen the country's energy security.

The company said the two stations, Hartlepool and Heysham 1, which are currently due to close in March 2026, will remain online until March 2027, while Heysham 2 and Torness stations, which are due to close in March 2028, will operate until March 2030.

The plants, which have three in northern England and one in southern Scotland, were built in the 1980s and were originally scheduled to close in 2023, but their working lives have already been extended once.

The latest expansion will help EDF make up for delays at the Hinkley Point C power station it is building in Somerset. Currently, production is scheduled to begin in 2029, four years later than originally planned.

Governments must find ways to meet the growing demand for low-carbon electricity as part of their efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government aims to decarbonise the UK's electricity system by 2030.

In a report last month on how this target could be met, the government-owned National Energy System Operator (NESO) said it assumed at least one in four nuclear power plants would still be available in 2030.

The new schedule calls for all four power plants to close by March 2030, but EDF's goal is to keep power generation running for longer, subject to plant inspections and regulatory oversight.

The company added that the new date represented its best estimate of how long the station would remain open, but warned there was a risk it could close sooner. The move was announced after a board meeting held in Paris on Tuesday.

EDF managing director of nuclear operations Mark Hartley said the company had invested around $8 billion in the UK's nuclear fleet since 2009 and planned to invest a further $1.3 billion between 2025 and 2027.

The four advanced gas-cooled reactors are one of five nuclear power plants still operating in the UK after several closures over the past few years due to age.

The fifth, pressurized water reactor, Sizewell B in Suffolk, began power generation in 1995. The reactor is scheduled to close in 2035, but could be extended for another 20 years.

According to British government statistics, nuclear energy accounted for about 14% of Britain's electricity production last year, down from about 20% in 2013.

suggestion

However, despite efforts to replace declining capacity, Hinkley Point C is currently the only new nuclear power plant under construction in the UK.

EDF and the UK government are yet to make a final investment decision on the second planned plant, Sizewell C, as they look to attract external investors to the project.

Commenting on EDF's announcement, NESO Chief Executive Fintan Slye said nuclear energy plays an important role in the power system.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the extension was a win for energy independence.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos