EDF has announced plans to invest £15 billion in the United Kingdom over the next three years, even as falling nuclear output and lower electricity prices weighed on its UK profits last year.
The French energy group revealed that nuclear generation from its five active UK power stations declined by 12% compared with 2024, primarily due to an extended outage at one of its ageing reactor systems.
Nuclear Outages Drag on Performance
While EDF’s Sizewell B plant in Suffolk and Torness in Scotland delivered strong operational performance, the company faced a prolonged outage at its Hartlepool power station in Teesside.
Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station, which began generating electricity 43 years ago, experienced issues affecting one of its two reactor systems. The facility supplies enough electricity to power around two million homes.
Despite the technical setbacks, the plant has received a one-year life extension and is now expected to operate until March 2028.
The reduced availability at Hartlepool was cited as the main driver behind the overall drop in nuclear output.
Lower Energy Prices Hit Earnings
In addition to operational challenges, EDF reported that lower electricity prices reduced profitability in 2025. Average nuclear power prices are understood to have fallen by approximately 20% compared with 2024.
Energy prices in the United Kingdom have been gradually easing following the spike triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which had previously driven wholesale gas and electricity costs sharply higher.
As a result, EDF’s UK earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) declined to £1.9 billion in 2025, down from £2.9 billion the previous year — a drop of roughly one third.
EDF’s Role in UK Energy Supply
Despite the decline in output, EDF’s nuclear fleet supplied approximately 12% of the UK’s total electricity demand last year, maintaining its position as Britain’s largest generator of zero-carbon electricity.
The company invested more than £5 billion in the UK during 2025, representing a 30% increase compared with the previous year.
£15bn Investment Plan: Nuclear and Renewables Expansion
Over the next three years, EDF plans to inject a further £15 billion into its UK operations. The investment will span:
· Nuclear power generation
· Wind energy projects
· Solar power developments
· Grid and supply infrastructure
A significant portion of the funding will support the construction of Hinkley Point C, the large-scale nuclear power station currently under development in Somerset.
EDF is also an investor in Sizewell C, a major nuclear project backed by the UK government.
Together, Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C are expected to generate enough low-carbon electricity to meet around 14% of UK demand and supply power to approximately 12 million homes once fully operational.
Strategic Outlook: Long-Term Energy Transition
Simone Rossi, chief executive of EDF in the UK, stated that the company remains committed to building a long-term nuclear and renewables generation business as Britain transitions away from fossil fuels.
The investment pledge comes at a critical time for the UK’s energy strategy, as policymakers seek to:
· Enhance energy security
· Reduce carbon emissions
· Stabilise electricity supply
· Attract large-scale infrastructure investment
While short-term profitability has been affected by outages and lower prices, EDF’s multi-billion-pound commitment underscores confidence in the UK’s long-term energy market and the central role nuclear power will play in achieving net-zero targets.
Economic and Energy Impact
The combination of nuclear life extensions, new plant construction and renewables expansion positions EDF as a cornerstone of the UK’s decarbonisation pathway.
However, the company must balance:
· Ageing nuclear infrastructure
· Price volatility in wholesale markets
· Construction risks on major projects
· Regulatory oversight
If execution remains on track, EDF’s £15bn investment programme could significantly reshape Britain’s electricity landscape over the next decade.