Hartlepool’s nuclear power station will now operate until March 2028
The North East's largest green power generator will continue making megawatts until 2028, EDF has announced.
Hartlepool Power Station, which over its life has made so much electricity it could power every home from Scarborough to Scotland for more than 50 years, will now keep its turbines turning for 12 months more.
In December last year EDF extended Hartlepool's life out to 2027. Today, following a further review the experts have concluded the plant can generate until 2028.
Mark Lees, Hartlepool Power Station Director, said: "For more than four decades our plant has been making enormous amounts of electricity. I'm delighted today's news means we can help keep the lights on and the nation powered for even longer.
"I see this decision as testament to the decades of hard work done in the North East for the benefit of the nation."
Hartlepool Power Station came online in 1983 and was expected to operate for about 25 years. Careful stewardship of the plant since EDF bought the UK's nuclear fleet in 2009, has enabled the company to extend the site's operating lifetime.
Since the last extension in December 2024, EDF experts have been carefully analysing data from the plant's two reactor cores to assess how they are ageing. They then used in-depth modelling of expected future behaviours and concluded the core is performing well. Future lifetime forecasts will depend on the outcomes of more reactor inspections.
Mark added: "This is really important news, regionally and nationally. It means we retain nuclear skills in the North East for longer and vitally we continue to generate homegrown electricity, until 2028.
"In the past few years there has been enormous debate about new North East nuclear, something we really want to see for the multitude of benefits construction and operation brings. This extension decision retains a regional nuclear skills base a little longer, giving key decision-makers more time to fully firm up development plans for the region."