Calder Hall was the world’s first industrial-scale nuclear power.

History of nuclear power

Britain was home to the world’s first industrial-scale nuclear power plant in the 1950’s, and over the past sixty years it has continued to play an important role in the UK’s energy mix. But in recent year it has begun to falter, as plants around the UK begin to retire, they have not been replaced.

Recent nuclear plant developments such as Hinkley Point C and Wylfa Newydd have been plagued by problems, leaving the UKs long-term nuclear future uncertain.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

So how did nuclear power grow, and fade, in the UK?

1956 – Calder Hall

Calder Hall was the world’s first industrial-scale nuclear power. Built in Cumbria and costing £35m, it started operating in 1956 and was only decommissioned in 2003.The power plant had four reactors, and a total capacity of 194MW.

1959 – Chapelcross 1, 2 and 3 (4 in 1960)

Scotland’s first nuclear power plant was Chapelcross in Dumfries. Reactors 1, 2 and 3 began production in 1959, with Chapelcross 4 starting in 1960. The plant had a maximum capacity of 196MW, and ran for over 40 years. Decommissioning began in 2004, and final site clearance is expected in 2095.

1962 – Bradwell 1 and 2

Beginning production in 1962, Bradwell 1 and 2 in Essex had a capacity of 242MW. Decommissioning began in 2002, with all fuel removed from the site in 2005.

1962 – Berkeley 1 and 2

Berkeley 1 and 2 also began producing energy in 1962, however decommissioning began in 1989, making it the first nuclear plant to be decommissioned in the UK. The plant, located on the shore of the river Severn in Gloucester, had a total capacity of 276MW.

1965 – Hinkley Point A

The first nuclear reactor built at the Hinkley site in Somerset began producing energy in 1965 and was decommissioned in 2000. The plant had a capacity of 500MW.

1966 – Sizewell A

In 1966, Sizewell A began operations in Suffolk, at a cost of £65m. The plant’s two reactors had a total capacity of 420MW, which were decommissioned in 2006.

1971 – Wylfa 1 and 2

Construction of Wylfa 1 and 2, Wales’ second nuclear power plant on the Isle of Anglesey, began in 1963, and began producing energy in 1971. The plant had a capacity of 980MW, and continued producing power until 2015 when decommissioning began.

1995 – Sizewell B

The last nuclear power plant built and connected to the grid was Sizewell B in 1995. With a capacity of 1,188MW, it is currently operated by EDF Energy and is the UK’s only pressurised water reactor. It is planned to continue production until 2035 when it will be decommissioned and the site used for another reactor.

1997 – THORP

The Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant (THORP) nuclear fuel reprocessing plant at Sellafield officially opened in 1997. It was announced in 2018 that operations had stopped, but the plant will continue holding spent fuel until the 2070s. It cost £1.8bn to construct.

2018 – Hinkley Point C

The Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant was approved by the UK Government in 2016, and on the 27 March 2017, the Office for Nuclear Regulation gave its consent for the construction of the plant. Work began in 2018, and the first reactor is expected to be operational by 2025, according to majority owner EDF energy. It is the only nuclear power plant under construction in the UK, and is expected to cost around £20bn, with a capacity of 3,200MW.

2019 – Wylfa Newydd

A new power plant was being planned by Horizon in Anglesey, next to the site of the previous nuclear plant that is currently being decommissioned. However, the future of the £20bn Wylfa Newydd nuclear plant is currently uncertain, after Horizon’s parent company Hitachi suspended its development plans. The plant was expected to have a capacity of 2,900MW and be operational by the mid-2020s, to continue operation for 60 years.