The U.K. government has secured a 20-year extension for the Sizewell B nuclear power station, guaranteeing its electricity price until 2055. This move aims to bolster the nation's nuclear capacity as part of its net-zero emissions target by 2050, providing a stable energy source to complement intermittent renewables like wind and solar.

The agreement allows for approximately £800 million in investment by operator EDF and its 20% stakeholder Centrica for plant upkeep. Sizewell B, which supplies about 3% of the U.K.'s electricity, will operate under a contract for difference, receiving £70.50 per megawatt hour indexed to inflation. This price is below current wholesale rates, influenced by global energy market disruptions, and also lower than the fixed price for the new Hinkley Point C project.

This extension positions Sizewell B as potentially one of the world's longest-serving nuclear plants. The deal will maintain around 900 skilled jobs but requires regulatory approval, with the Office for Nuclear Regulation emphasizing the need for updated safety cases and sustained equipment reliability. The U.K. is increasingly reliant on nuclear power, which supplied 12% of its electricity in 2025, to support its energy security goals.