UK and EDF extend Sizewell B nuclear plant life to 2055 in £70.50/MWh deal
The UK government and EDF agreed to extend the Sizewell B nuclear power station's operations by 20 years until 2055, securing 3% of Britain's electricity and hundreds of jobs.
The deal
Sizewell B, Britain’s most recently built nuclear plant, will now operate for 60 years, having first synchronised with the National Grid in 1995. The government announced a heads of terms agreement with EDF, the French state-owned operator, and Centrica, which holds a 20% stake in its UK reactors. The plant was originally due to close within the next decade, but the extension ensures it continues generating until 2055.
Energy strategy
The extension is part of a broader push by the Labour government to expand nuclear power to back up growing wind and solar supplies as the country aims for net zero emissions by 2050. Rising electricity demand from electric vehicles, low-carbon heating and AI datacentres is driving the need for additional clean power.
Nuclear power is vital for our energy security, and this extension will help produce the clean power our country needs.
A real vote of confidence in the hundreds of skilled workers in Suffolk who will power Britain's clean energy future, delivering the long-term certainty that businesses and workers need.
Financial terms
Under the planned contract for difference, EDF will receive £70.50 per megawatt hour, indexed to inflation, for the 20-year period starting from 2035. If wholesale prices fall below that level, consumers will top up the difference; if they rise above, the plant repays. The agreed price is lower than current wholesale rates, which have been elevated by global energy market disruption. EDF and Centrica are expected to invest about £800mn into the plant’s upkeep.
Wider nuclear picture
Sizewell B is not alone in prolonging its life. Four other ageing reactors (Heysham 1 and 2, Hartlepool and Torness) have already had their shutdowns deferred, in some cases by two decades. These extensions bridge the gap until new capacity arrives. Hinkley Point C is due online in 2030, and Sizewell C is expected in the late 2030s.
- Sizewell B begins operation
- Heysham 1 and Hartlepool original closure date
- Heysham 2 and Torness original closure date
- Heysham 1 and Hartlepool extended closure
- Hinkley Point C expected online, Heysham 2 and Torness close
- Sizewell B originally due to close
- Sizewell C expected online
- Sizewell B extended closure
Safety and jobs
Regulatory approval remains pending. The Office for Nuclear Regulation said life extensions require an updated safety case and investment in plant reliability, with a need for sustained technical skills.
The deal will protect bill payers and boost the country's energy security.
The government said the arrangement would help maintain 900 skilled jobs at the Suffolk site.
