British gas owner Centrica extends lifespan of Heysham 1 and Hartlepool nuclear power stations by two years
- Heysham 1 and Hartlepool stations are expected to close in March 2026
- The additional two years are expected to add 70% of Centrica’s total nuclear volumes
British gas owner Centrica has announced plans to extend the life of two nuclear power plants in a bid to “bolster the UK’s energy security in uncertain times”.
The group said Heysham 1 and Hartlepool stations are expected to close in March 2026, two years later than previously forecast.
This is expected to add 6 terawatt hours to electricity generation volumes between 2024 and 2026, or about 70 percent of Centrica’s total nuclear volumes in 2022.
Heysham 1 (pictured) and Hartlepool stations are expected to close in March 2026
Chris O’Shea, CEO of Centrica, said: ‘I am delighted that we have been able to work with EDF to strengthen the UK’s energy security by extending the life of these critical power plants.
“This continues our drive to strengthen security of supply in our core markets, including reopening the Rough gas storage facility in the UK, approving new gas-fired power generation capacity in Ireland and securing greater volumes of gas and renewable energy for our customers.
“We will continue to focus on supporting energy security in our core markets during these uncertain times.”
Last month, Centrica announced a profit of £3.3 billion for 2022, more than triple its 2021 figure.
They were driven by gas production in the North Sea, nuclear energy and extreme volatility in wholesale markets following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
British Gas contributed just £72 million to Centrica’s total profits last year. But the windfall has sparked controversy over why these winnings weren’t used to lower bills.