UK / Second Unit At Hinkley Point B Shuts Down, Leaving Country With Just Nine Reactors

Government remains bullish on new nuclear, but only two plants under construction
Second Unit At Hinkley Point B Shuts Down, Leaving Country With Just Nine Reactors
The two-unit Hinkley Point B station was capable of producing enough energy for about 1.7 million homes a year. Courtesy EDF Energy.
The Hinkley Point B-1 nuclear power plant in southwest England has been permanently shut down, leaving the UK with only nine reactors in commercial operation – putting more pressure on the UK’s electricity supplies ahead of the coldest months of the year.

The 485-MW advanced gas-cooled reactor (AGR), which began commercial operation in October 1978, stopped generating electricity at 10:00am on Monday (1 August), owner and operator EDF Energy said.

Together with Hinkley B-2, a 480-MW AGR that was permanently shut down on 6 July, the two-unit station was capable of producing enough energy for about 1.7 million homes a year.

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