Sizewell B, near Southwold, hits electricity generation milestone, equivalent of powering Suffolk homes for 192 years

Sizewell B has hit a significant milestone this week as it passed 250TWh of electricity generation, the equivalent of being able to power every home in Suffolk for 192 years.

The nuclear power station, based near Southwold, first started generating in 1995, and the carbon saved by its low power generation has saved 87 million tonnes of CO₂ from entering the atmosphere.

This is equivalent to keeping all the cars in the UK off the road for over a year.

Construction on Sizewell C, which will be next to Sizewell B, is expected to commence this year.

Station Director Robert Gunn said: “This milestone is the result of a lot of hard work from a lot of great people – and I’m really proud of the contribution of everyone here at Sizewell B.

“Sizewell B has been a Suffolk success story for almost 29 years; This latest milestone is a fantastic demonstration of how the power station is continuing to provide reliable, 24/7 electricity to our energy mix – over a quarter of a century after it first started generating.”

The power station is a sizeable employer in the eastern region, contributing £40m to the local economy on wages. Around 600 people work on-site, as well as 250 in year-round contracting roles. 7

Its visitor centre also brings in around 75,000 people annually.

Mr Gunn continued: “I would like to thank our team here are Sizewell B for all the work they do, especially those who worked over Christmas as we approached this landmark.

“The power station is a key national asset, it makes a significant contribution to Britain’s energy security, and I’m looking forward to adding to this big milestone over the coming decades.”

EDF has said it is committed to progressing work which would extend the operational lifetime of Sizewell B by another 20 years, to 2055.

As well as finalising the technical case, the company is seeking a greater cost certainty and confidence in the long-term commercial case to enable a final investment decision.