Sizewell B extended.
UK government and EDF extend Sizewell B nuclear plant's life by 20 years to boost low-carbon electricity.
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EDF and the UK government have signed a deal to extend the life of Sizewell B nuclear power station in Suffolk by 20 years, keeping it running until 2055, according to The Guardian and Financial Times. The 1.2-gigawatt plant, the UK's last completed nuclear station, was due to shut down within the next decade.
Under the deal, EDF will receive £70.50 per megawatt-hour for the electricity Sizewell B generates, Insider Media reported. The extension takes the plant to a 60-year total lifespan — potentially making it one of the longest-serving nuclear plants in the world, according to Financial Times.
Why the UK Is Betting on Sizewell B
The UK is pushing hard to cut carbon emissions and meet growing electricity demand. Nuclear power produces no direct carbon emissions, making it a key tool in the government's net zero strategy. Sizewell B alone supplies around 3% of the UK's total electricity, according to The Guardian.
Without the extension, the UK would have lost a major low-carbon power source just as demand is set to rise. Electric vehicles, heat pumps, and data centres are all driving electricity use higher. Keeping Sizewell B online avoids the need to replace that capacity with new, expensive alternatives.
What EDF Gets From the £70.50 Price Deal
The agreed price of £70.50 per megawatt-hour gives EDF a guaranteed income for power generated at the plant, Mirror reported. This type of deal — known as a "regulated asset base" model — lets the company earn a steady return while keeping risk low. It mirrors the funding structure proposed for the new Sizewell C project.
EDF is a French state-owned energy company. It already operates all of the UK's remaining nuclear plants. The Sizewell B extension deal secures its role in UK energy for decades to come, according to ca.MarketScreener.
Sizewell B's Long Road From 1995 to 2055
Sizewell B first connected to the National Grid in 1995. It is the UK's only pressurised water reactor — a more modern design than the older gas-cooled plants that have already closed. The plant was originally built to run for around 40 years, according to The Guardian.
Life extensions like this are common for nuclear plants globally. They require safety checks, equipment upgrades, and regulator approval. The Office for Nuclear Regulation must sign off before Sizewell B can legally operate past its original end date, Daily Mail noted.
New Nuclear Projects Get a Government Push Too
Alongside the Sizewell B announcement, the government unveiled new policies to support the first fresh nuclear power projects in a generation, The Guardian reported. That includes Sizewell C, a planned new reactor on the same Suffolk site. The government has been working to attract private investment for that project.
The UK has not completed a new nuclear plant since Sizewell B itself opened 30 years ago. Officials say new capacity is essential to hit climate targets and keep the lights on as old gas and coal plants close. The Sizewell B extension buys time while those longer-term projects take shape.
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