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EDF to extend the operating life of 4 British nuclear plants

EDF will extend the life of four of its British nuclear plants and invest 1.3 billion pounds ($ 1.64 billion) in its British fleet over 20252027, it said on Wednesday, in a boost for the country's energy security and efforts to meet its climate targets.

Britain has a target to decarbonise its electricity sector by 2030 and decrease its dependence on nonrenewable fuel source gas power plants which currently offer around a 3rd of its power.

Nuclear power stations offer around 14% of Britain's. electrical energy however all however among its five operating plants were. previously scheduled to close by the end of 2028.

We can't achieve clean power by 2030 without nuclear, which. provides a necessary consistent supply of homegrown tidy. energy, Britain's Energy secretary Ed Miliband stated in the EDF. declaration.

French-state owned utility EDF said it would look for to extend. the life of its Heysham 2 and Torness plants for an additional. two years to March 2030.

The life of its Heysham 1 and Hartlepool plants will be. extended by one year to March 2027.

The 4 sites have actually a combined capacity of 4.6 gigawatts. ( GW), and can generate enough electricity to power around 7. million homes.

Centrica, which owns a 20% stake in the nuclear plants stated. the extensions would help to bridge the gap while more low. carbon innovations, such as brand-new nuclear plants could be. deployed.

EDF has formerly said it would think about a 20-year life. extension at its fifth plant, Sizewell B, but no choice is. anticipated for a while considering that the plant is currently set up to. close in 2035.

In overall it said 1.3 billion pounds would be invested in the. 5 plants over the next 3 years.

Britain's nuclear regulator, the Workplace for Nuclear. Regulation stated safety cases would require to be carried out to. allow the life extensions to occur.

Numerous security cases at each station are most likely to. require updating to accomplish EDF's stated aspirations, together. with investment in plant to sustain equipment dependability, the. ONR said in a statement.

EDF is likewise building Hinkley Point C, Britain's first new. nuclear plant in more than twenty years in Somerset, southwest. England, which could see some capacity operating in 2029. ($ 1 = 0.7910 pound)

(source: Reuters)