nuclear-news

Two UK nuclear stations were due for closure in 2014. Now EDF wants to extend their lifetime yet again.

EDF considers extending life of two UK nuclear plants due to energy crisis. Hartlepool and Heysham 1, operational for four decades, are due to close in 2024 but EDF says that is under review.

Guardian Alex Lawson Energy correspondent, 29 Sep 2022

France’s EDF is considering extending the life of two British nuclear power plants due to the severity of the energy crisis.

EDF said on Wednesday that it would review whether there was a case to keep open the Hartlepool nuclear power plant in County Durham and Heysham 1 on the north-west coast of England near Lancaster. Both plants had been scheduled to close in March 2024.

EDF operates all of Britain’s eight nuclear power plants, five of which are still providing power to the grid, about 13% of the UK’s electricity. The entire fleet is due to shut by 2028 apart from Sizewell B, which will close in 2035.

When EDF took over the nuclear fleet in 2009, Heysham 1 and Hartlepool were due to run until 2014. After technical reviews, that was extended to 2019 and then, in 2016, a further five-year extension was approved after further reviews.

Sources said any extra lifespan for the stations was likely to be far shorter than previous extensions……..

EDF said it had decided to launch the review “in light of the severity of the energy crisis and the results of recent graphite inspections” and said an extension would “depend on the results of graphite inspections over the coming months”…………………………………………………………

Some power-generation companies, including those on nuclear, old solar and windfarm contracts have landed an unexpected windfall from the jump in electricity prices while their costs have not risen, triggering calls for a windfall tax………………………..  https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/sep/28/edf-considers-extending-life-of-two-uk-nuclear-plants-due-to-energy-crisis-hartlepool-heysham

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September 27, 2022 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, UK