Source · Select Committees · Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Recommendation 2
2
Deferred
Paragraph: 32
Spell out contribution of reactor life extensions to 24 GW nuclear target in Strategic Plan
Recommendation
The new Nuclear Strategic Plan, that we recommend, must spell out how the current reactor fleet, through life extensions, will contribute to the Government’s ambition of 24 GW from nuclear by 2050.
Government Response Summary
The government welcomed EDF's decision to extend two nuclear stations until March 2026, noting that lifetime extensions are decisions for the operator and regulator. It states it is not in a position to detail EDF's future plans for life extensions within the roadmap.
Paragraph Reference:
32
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
HMG welcomed the recent announcement by EDF that two key stations, Heysham 1 and Hartlepool, with a combined capacity of ~ 2.4 GW will continue to operate until March 2026, an extension of two years. The continued operation of assets in the nuclear fleet (including the AGR fleet and Sizewell B) is supportive of HMG’s ambitions to deploy up to 24GW by 2050 however, lifetime extensions are a decision for the operator (EDF) and the independent nuclear regulator (the ONR) based on safety and commercial considerations. While generation dates are kept under regular review by HMG, we are not in the position to set out EDF’s future plans for lifetime extensions in the roadmap.