Operating capacity of nuclear power stations in the United Kingdom 2024

Among the nine nuclear power reactors operative in the United Kingdom as of May 2024, Sizewell B accounted for the largest capacity, with a total of 1,198 megawatts. This was almost double the capacity of the two reactors of the Heysham nuclear plant.

Nuclear energy's role in electricity generation in the UK

In the past, nuclear energy played an important role in the generation of electricity in the UK. In the past few years, the volume of electricity production decreased, falling from roughly 72 terawatt-hours in 2016 to roughly 40 terawatt-hours in 2023. The nuclear electricity generation in the UK is expected to keep declining, since the nuclear reactors in the UK are close to the end of their lifecycle. However, in 2022, the UK's government announced the project for the construction of new nuclear reactors.

Electricity sources in the UK

In 2022, natural gas was still the leading source of power supply in the UK, at almost 40 percent of the total share. To counteract the decrease in nuclear power production, the use of renewable energy grew in the country, mainly from onshore wind source and solar photovoltaics.