The Progress Network’s Post

“…Four UK nuclear reactors are going to stay online for longer than expected as the country works toward decarbonizing the grid. The extensions, announced by a unit of operator Electricite de France SA and partner Centrica Plc, include a one-year reprieve for the Hartlepool and Heysham 1 sites that were previously scheduled to shut in 2026. The Heysham 2 and Torness power stations will be kept open until 2030 instead of closing in 2028. Nuclear power is viewed as critical to the UK government’s plans to cut emissions and reach 2050 net-zero goals. The nation is increasingly relying on wind and solar to meet demand, but needs back-up power when output from those sources drops significantly. “In an energy system that is becoming ever more intermittent, baseload power generation that doesn’t depend on the sun shining and the wind blowing is essential to keeping the lights on,” Centrica’s Chief Executive Officer Chris O’Shea said in a statement. Centrica owns a 20% share in the sites. The four reactors, equivalent to 4.6 gigawatts of capacity, use so-called advanced gas-cooled technology to operate. Inspections of their graphite cores in 2024 informed the decision to extend their lifetimes, according to a separate statement from EDF. EDF will spend an additional £1.3 billion ($1.6 billion) on its nuclear fleet from 2025 to 2027 on top of the £8 billion already invested since 2009. The company is also planning a 20-year life extension for Sizewell B, from 2035 to 2055. A final investment decision on this has not been made yet.”

Nuclear energy is so back. https://lnkd.in/eZG3_U-6

Interesting development: The Three Mile Island nuclear power plant, which experienced a partial meltdown in 1979, may play a role in powering future AI data centers! https://lnkd.in/g5EdpNCv

Low Carbon Shipping A major advantage of powering a feeder with a nuclear steam turbine or nuclear-electric drivetrain would be its ability to sail much faster, without concerns over fuel costs or increased emissions, giving the service greater ability to compete with road transport.

Nuclear energy in 24/7 carbon-free energy systems: meeting the moment - seeing a resurgence

A wonderful prioritization in the energy and building sectors.

Interesting article and I think an important effort. IF we can make nuclear power generation significantly safer and less expensive, that will help us maintain modern life while reducing carbon emissions.

If the world had stuck with the early pioneering growth of nuclear power, global energy emissions would have been 6% lower, saving 2.1 Gt of CO2. That’s the same as taking 460m cars off the road for a year or removing the combined total emissions of Canada, South Korea, Australia and Mexico. https://lnkd.in/einG-3Mn

📢 Forsmark has together with the owners taken an important decision to initiate a feasibility study to investigate possible lifetime extension of Forsmark nuclear power plant. 🙌🌍🌱 #nuclearpower #fossilfree #cleanelectricity #decarbonisation

clean energy goals can only be achieved via nuclear energy