United Kingdom - World Nuclear Performance Report

The UK has nine operable reactors at five sites; eight are advanced gas-cooled reactors (AGRs), with one pressurized water reactor (PWR) at Sizewell. In January 2024 EDF announced it would invest a further GBP1.3 billion in the UK’s operating plants over the following two years and planned to further extend the lives of the AGR plants.

Two EPR units are under construction at Hinkley Point. In January 2024 EDF said that they are now unlikely to be operational before 2030. In the same announcement EDF said the estimated cost of the project had increased to between GBP31 and 34 billion (in 2015 prices) – up from 26 billion, as estimated in 2022. 

Two further EPR units are planned at Sizewell. In May 2024 the country’s regulator issued a site licence for Sizewell C. This followed the issuance of a Development Consent Order on 15 January, which paves the way for construction work to begin at the site, and the commitment on 23 January of a further GBP1.3 billion of government funding for infrastructure work at the site ahead of a final investment decision.

The new Labour government, elected in July 2024, has said that new nuclear power stations, such as Sizewell C, and small modular reactors, will play an important role in helping the UK achieve energy security and clean power while securing thousands of good, skilled jobs.

Nuclear electricity production by age of reactor