EDF has received approval to start generating power again from one of the reactors at Hunterston B power station in Ayrshire.
The move follows a major, two-year inspection and investment programme "to prove that the station can respond safely to a range of earthquake scenarios, far worse than the UK has ever experienced or expects to occur".
That came after cracks were found in the graphite bricks in a reactor.
The energy company said that given the age of the station and the desire to provide clarity for staff, the community and business partners, EDF has decided that Hunterston B will move into the defuelling phase no later than January 7 2022.
This is subject to a further inspection in spring 2021 and then regulatory approval for a final six months of operation.
READ MORE: Power station to undergo £1m upgrade
Hunterston B started generating low carbon electricity in 1976.
In 2012 EDF extended the generating life of the station out to March 2023, with a +/- 2 years proviso.
Matt Sykes, Managing Director for EDF’s Generation business, said: “Hunterston B has quietly delivered a major contribution to the UK for more than 40 years. It has far exceeded its original remit and, over its lifetime, gone on to safely produce enough low carbon energy to power the whole of Scotland for 8 years.
“We didn’t know back in the 1960s, when these plants were designed, just how important low carbon energy would become.
"We owe all those that designed, built, commissioned and still operate the station a huge debt of gratitude. Our focus is on continuing to safely deliver the last period of power generation and then transition the station into decommissioning.”
READ MORE: Power giant highlights potential of Argyll renewable energy plant
Once Hunterston B stops generating power, EDF will take on the next task of defuelling the station, the first stage of the nuclear decommissioning process.
Preparations for defuelling have been under way for a long time and, once started, the process is expected to take a few years to complete.
Defuelling will involve continued use of EDF’s experienced teams, and specialist supply chain companies, which it said would help sustain an important source of local jobs in Ayrshire and the surrounding economy.
Simone Rossi, EDF’s UK chief executive, said: “I am extremely proud of all those who have run Hunterston B for more than 40 years.
"Today’s announcement underlines the urgent need for investment in new, low carbon nuclear power to help Britain achieve net zero and secure the future for its nuclear industry, supply chain and workers.”
EDF is building European pressurised water reactors (EPRs) at Hinkley Point C and developing plans for a replica plant at Sizewell C. It also has a minority stake in the Bradwell B project.
Friends of the Earth Scotland's Director Dr Richard Dixon said: “Nuclear energy is dangerous, unaffordable and unreliable. For some electricity today, we are leaving a thousand generations of future humans dangerous radioactive waste. While we’d rather the reactors never restarted, having a final closure date in sight is a hugely significant step in Scotland’s transition to clean, green energy.
“The Hunterston reactors were supposed to shut nearly ten years ago and their cracked cores show that they are well past their sell-by date.
“Restarting the Hunterston reactors is definitely not worth the risk. Most people in Scotland will not even have noticed these reactors at Hunterston have been offline for most of the last two years, as the expansion of renewable energy has made up for the difference. The lights have stayed on with no problems.
“Nuclear power leaves such a mess that there will be plenty of work cleaning up the Hunterston site for decades to come. The need to clean up afterwards is the only thing reliable about the nuclear industry.”
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article