Heysham 1 and Hartlepool nuclear power stations (pictured) are now expected to close in March 2026 – two years later than previously forecast.
The extensions are expected to add 6TWh to Centrica’s electricity generation volumes between 2024 and 2026 which equates to around 70 per cent of Centrica’s total nuclear volumes in 2022, the company said in a regulatory announcement to investors.
The extension comes amid turbulence and high prices in the gas and power markets following the invasion of Ukraine.
The plants have a combined capacity of 2.3 gigawatts and currently provide around 5 per cent of Britain’s power supply.
Hartlepool, which has been generating energy since 1983, was originally expected to shut down in 2009 but was given permission by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) for an extension of five years in 2007, meaning that it could continue to generate until 2014. This was then extended a further two times until 2024 prior to the latest...