Heysham 2 power station, in Lancashire, has achieved a record-breaking generation milestone over the Christmas period. The EDF-owned station, which was first connected to the grid in 1988, is now the UK’s most productive nuclear power station.
Over its 37-year lifetime it has generated almost 311TWh of low carbon electricity, enough to power every home in Lancashire for more than 180 years. By reaching this milestone, Heysham 2 has overtaken Hinkley Point B in Somerset, which previously held the record and stopped generating in 2022 on 310.7TWh.
Heysham 2 is one of seven Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactor (AGR) stations in the UK, the first of which, Hinkley Point B, came online almost 50 years ago. For decades, the fleet has delivered reliable baseload electricity and helped maintain grid stability, which has become increasingly important as the UK’s energy system decarbonises and traditional thermal plants, such as coal and gas, are replaced by renewable sources.
Since the Heysham sites became operational in the 1980s, they have been a cornerstone of employment in the region, providing stable, long-term careers for local people. Its continued operation not only provides hundreds of skilled roles every year but also supports the wider economy in the area through apprenticeships, training opportunities, and partnerships with local businesses.
Sean Kyle is an Operations Support Engineer and has worked at Heysham 2 since 1985, he said: 'I consider myself very fortunate to have worked at Heysham 2 for all these years. The station has given me a varied and interesting career, and I feel proud to have been part of the journey from commissioning to the present day.'
It is estimated that the station has saved over 108 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere, which is equivalent to taking every car off the UK’s roads for almost two years.
Since acquiring the nuclear fleet 15 years ago, EDF has invested more than £8.6 billion and is investing a further £1.2 billion over the next three years (2026-2028) to help sustain current levels of generation, boost energy security, and cut carbon.
Martin Cheetham, Heysham 2 Station Director, said: 'Reaching this milestone is an incredible achievement for Heysham 2 and a testament to the dedication of our team.
'Knowing that this amount of energy is enough to power every home in Lancashire for more than 180 years really brings home the scale of what we’ve delivered for the region and the country over the years.
'Through construction and generation, the station has been part of the community for more than 45 years, providing thousands of jobs and, along with Heysham 1, contributing more than £28 billion to the UK economy.'
When EDF took over the nuclear fleet in 2009, Heysham 2 was due to stop generating in 2023 after 35 years of operation. Its current end-of-generation date is March 2030, with an ambition to generate further, subject to plant inspections and regulatory approvals
Background
- 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).
Source: EDF
