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EDF has revealed it is looking to extend the operational life of the Sizewell B nuclear power station in Suffolk by two decades.
The plant in Suffolk is currently scheduled to close in 2035 and by 2028 will be the only nuclear power station still operating from Britain’s existing fleet.
The company announced it has launched a review to establish whether the plant, which currently meets around 3% of the UK’s electricity demand, can continue operating for a further 20 years, pushing the closure date back to 2055.
As part of the review, EDF said it will systematically check the state of its equipment and work with its partners to identify areas where investment will be required to maintain safe and reliable generation. It will make its final decision on the future of the site in 2024. If it decides to go ahead with the extension, it will then make the required capital investments and safety enhancements and obtain the necessary regulatory approvals.
Robert Gunn, Sizewell B station director, said: “I am proud of our local team at the power station and the work they do to ensure Sizewell B continues to generate the low carbon electricity that we all depend upon.”
News of the review into Sizewell B came as the government announced its energy security strategy in which it revealed that a new body will be set up immediately to help deliver 24GW of new nuclear capacity by 2050.
You can read industry reaction to the strategy here.
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