British Gas owner Centrica’s plan took a further step forward on Tuesday after it was announced that operational life at two major nuclear stations in the UK has been extended until 2028.

Centrica, the largest shareholder of the stations at a 20% holding, announced that Heysham 1 in Lancashire and Hartlepool in northeast England, both operating units of French state-owned utility EDF Group, will keep producing electricity until March 2028. It came amidst a move by Britain to hasten efforts in decarbonising electricity generation by 2030 while cutting natural gas power installation dependency.

Centrica nuclear extension prolongs capacity

It will mean that both power stations will be a major contributor to the UK's energy generation mix for a further three years. To date, these announced extensions since December 2024 will provide about 12 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity production between 2026 and 2030, say Centrica. It is a vital boost to Britain's grid resilience at a time when renewable growth is coming alongside a demand for trusted baseload power.

Centrica's nuclear extension is also part of a wider national plan. The UK government has been promoting new nuclear growth both to replace its aging fleet and provide energy security against global fuel market volatility. Natural gas still generates around a third of Britain's electricity but policymakers have made a distinct move to decline this dependency.

Focus is maintained on climate objectives

Contrary to the report, Centrica has insisted that no changes will be made to the scheduled shutdown of Heysham 2 and Torness nuclear stations, which will close operations by March 2030. A Heysham 1 and Hartlepool extension provides a breather to the UK while it progresses works on new low-carbon power plants.

Britain has ambitious targets to completely decarbonise its power network by 2030. Nuclear power, in concert with renewables such as wind and solar, is key to this deadline. Commentators indicate that nuclear power extension by Centrica will reduce the opportunity risks associated with supply gaps until new plants like Sizewell C proceed.

Investment in Sizewell C

Centrica bolstered its nuclear portfolio in July last after acquiring a 15% stake in the planned Sizewell C nuclear power station in Suffolk. Worth £20 billion and built in collaboration with EDF, the UK state, and fellow investors such as Canadian pension fund La Caisse, this is considered a pillar of Britain's new generation nuclear power capacity. With a capacity to power six million residences once it begins operations, Sizewell C will be a gem in any portfolio.

For Centrica, both Sizewell investment and life extensions confirm a long-term policy of balancing customer affordability versus energy security. CEO Chris O'Shea has previously emphasized his firm's backing UK in hitting climate targets while ensuring solid supply to residences and businesses.

Looking ahead

Centrica's nuclear extension plan is a testament to the existing nuclear assets' role in bridging the gap to a decarbonised future. With transportation and heat sector electrification projected to increase demand further, extending the existing infrastructure's shelf life is viewed as a plausible step.

As UK advances to achieve targets by 2030, Centrica's nuclear strategy—extending existing plants and purchasing new capacity—positions it to be a major contributor to a transformed energy future in the UK.