EARLIER this month Hinkley Point B in Somerset achieved the milestone of generating 300 terawatt hours of low-carbon electricity since coming online in 1976.
The station now holds the UK record for generating more electricity than any other nuclear power station in the country.
This is enough to power every home for almost three years while avoiding the production of 105 Million tonnes of C02e, the equivalent of removing all cars from our roads for one and a half years.
Peter Evans, Hinkley Point B’s Station Director, commented on the news: “Achieving the 300 terawatt hours milestone is a fantastic achievement and really signifies the huge contribution Hinkley Point B power station has made to low carbon generation in the UK over the years.
“I would like to pay tribute and personally thank the staff, contract partners, and central support functions, both past and present who have all played a part in the power station’s ongoing success.”
Operating 24 hours a day, the station continues to play an important role in the fight against climate change and the UK’s ambition to make net-zero emissions possible.
Hinkley Point B first started operating in February 1976, first making history when it became the first of the then Central Electricity Generating Board’s advanced gas cooled reactors to connect to the national grid.
It became the UK’s twelfth operational commercial nuclear power station and today employs over 700 people.
Besides Hinkley Point B, EDF owns eight nuclear power stations in the UK.
EDF Energy is the UK’s largest producer of low-carbon electricity, meeting around one-fifth of the country’s demand.
It generates electricity with eight nuclear power stations, more than 30 wind farms, one gas and two coal power stations, as well as with combined heat and power plants.
Hinkley Point C will provide low carbon electricity to meet 7% of UK demand.
