Centrica has announced that two of the UK’s nuclear power stations—Heysham 1 in Lancashire and Hartlepool in Teesside—will keep generating electricity until March 2028, a year longer than

originally planned.

The decision follows detailed safety inspections of the plants’ graphite reactor cores earlier this year. By running for another year, the two sites will continue supplying enough low-carbon electricity to power more than four million homes annually. For Centrica, which owns a 20% stake in the plants alongside operator EDF, the extension means an extra 3 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity added to its portfolio between 2026 and 2030.

The move comes at a time when the UK is under pressure to strengthen its energy security and cut reliance on fossil fuels. Since late 2024, extensions across the country’s nuclear fleet are expected to add around 60TWh of extra supply, with Centrica’s share accounting for about 12TWh.

Centrica has also been doubling down on nuclear more broadly. Last year, the company invested £1.3 billion for a 15% stake in Sizewell C, the new 3.2GW nuclear plant under construction in Suffolk. Once complete, Sizewell C is set to provide reliable, zero-carbon electricity for at least 60 years.

Chris O’Shea, Centrica’s Chief Executive, said the decision reflects the critical role nuclear plays in the UK’s energy system:

“The UK needs more reliable, affordable, zero-carbon electricity, so the extension of Heysham 1 and Hartlepool is great news. We believe in having a diversified energy system, with nuclear power playing a key role in ensuring stability and sustainability for decades to come.”

For now, the extensions highlight how the UK is making the most of its existing nuclear stations to support the country’s push toward net zero, while new capacity like Sizewell C is still being built. Heysham 2 and Torness are currently expected to close in 2030, though that timeline will depend on future inspections and regulatory reviews. Photo by David Medcalf, Wikimedia commons.