EDF’s Heysham 2 Overtakes Hinkley Point B as Britain’s Top-Generating Nuclear Plant

EDF’s Heysham 2 Overtakes Hinkley Point B as Britain’s Top-Generating Nuclear Plant

(IN BRIEF) Heysham 2 power station in Lancashire has become the UK’s most productive nuclear facility after generating nearly 311TWh of electricity since 1988, overtaking Hinkley Point B. Operated by EDF, the station has provided decades of reliable low-carbon power, supported regional employment, and avoided more than 108 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions, reinforcing the long-term role of nuclear energy in the UK’s decarbonising power system.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 8-Jan-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Heysham 2 power station, operated by EDF, has become the most productive nuclear power station in the United Kingdom after surpassing a long-standing electricity generation record during the Christmas period.

Since connecting to the national grid in 1988, the Lancashire-based station has generated nearly 311 terawatt hours (TWh) of low-carbon electricity over its 37-year operational life. This achievement places Heysham 2 ahead of Hinkley Point B, which previously held the record before ceasing generation in 2022.

The scale of Heysham 2’s output is equivalent to supplying every household in Lancashire with electricity for more than 180 years. The milestone underscores the long-term contribution of the UK’s nuclear fleet to national energy security, particularly as the electricity system continues to decarbonise and reduce reliance on fossil fuel generation.

Heysham 2 is one of seven Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactor (AGR) stations built across the UK, a fleet that has delivered decades of reliable baseload power and helped stabilise the grid as renewable energy capacity has expanded. As intermittent sources such as wind and solar grow, the role of nuclear generation in maintaining consistent supply has become increasingly significant.

Beyond electricity production, the station has played a major role in the regional economy since the 1980s. It continues to support hundreds of skilled jobs, apprenticeships, and long-term career opportunities, while contributing to local supply chains and business partnerships across Lancashire.

Over its lifetime, Heysham 2 is estimated to have prevented more than 108 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions compared with gas-fired power generation, an environmental saving roughly equivalent to removing every car from UK roads for almost two years.

EDF has invested more than £8.6 billion into the UK nuclear fleet since acquiring it in 2009 and has committed an additional £1.2 billion between 2026 and 2028. These investments are aimed at sustaining generation levels, strengthening energy security, and supporting the transition to a low-carbon power system.

Martin Cheetham, Station Director at Heysham 2, said the milestone reflects decades of dedication from the site’s workforce and its deep-rooted connection to the local community. Although originally scheduled to cease operations in 2023, the station’s current end-of-generation date has been extended to March 2030, with the potential for further operation subject to regulatory approval and ongoing inspections.

• Construction of Heysham 2 power station started in August 1980. The first reactor was synched to the grid on 12 July 1988 and the second on 11 November 1988.
• The homes powered value is calculated using UK Government figures on domestic energy usage and the number of households in Lancashire.
• The carbon-avoided value is calculated compared to the emissions of a gas-fired power station.
• Heysham 2 employs approximately 520 full-time EDF employees plus more than 250 full-time contract partners.
• The current UK nuclear fleet consists of: Defueling stations: Hunterston B – North Ayrshire (1976), Hinkley Point B – Somerset (1976), Dungeness B – Kent (1983). Generating stations: Heysham 1 – Lancashire (1983), Hartlepool – Teesside (1983), Heysham 2 – Lancashire (1988), Torness – East Lothian (1988), Sizewell B – Suffolk (1995).

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SOURCE: EDF