Two nuclear power stations in England will remain open for a year longer than expected, with hints that Torness in Scotland could be given an extension.
Centrica, which has a 20% stake in Heysham 1 and Hartlepool, said they are expected to generate electricity until March 2028, one year later than previously planned.
It said there is no change “at the moment” to the expected March 2030 closure date of Heysham 2 and Torness, near Dunbar in East Lothian.
The decision on the change of generation dates for the two stations was taken following a licensee board meeting on Monday.
These stations provide homegrown low-carbon electricity to power more than four million homes a year.
Centrica has a longstanding interest in the UK’s existing nuclear power portfolio. The total life extensions announced since December 2024 are projected to add approximately 12 TWh to the company’s electricity generation volumes between 2026 and 2030, with 3 TWh attributable to the extensions announced today.
This follows Centrica’s recently announced strategic investment in the UK’s nuclear infrastructure by acquiring a 15% equity stake in Sizewell C, a new 3.2GW nuclear power station under construction in Suffolk, in the South East of the UK, with committed construction funding of £1.3 billion.
Once commissioned, the new station will provide zero-carbon baseload power to the UK for at least the next 60 years.
Chris O’Shea, chief executive of Centrica said: “The UK needs more reliable, affordable, zero-carbon electricity, so the extension of Heysham 1 and Hartlepool is great news.
“We believe in having a diversified energy system, with nuclear power playing a key role in ensuring stability and sustainability for decades to come. Our longstanding involvement in the UK nuclear industry is an investment in Britain’s energy independence and thousands of high-quality jobs.
“Our recent investments in Sizewell C and the Isle of Grain LNG Terminal further underscores our commitment to securing the UK’s energy future through a range of low-carbon technologies.”
Torness consolidated its place as Scotland’s most productive low carbon asset by reaching the milestone of 300TWh (Terawatt hours) of electricity generation earlier this year. That is enough to power every home in Scotland for 36 years.
The Scottish government is opposed to replacing nuclear power plants.
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