Hinkley - 2030

Posted: 22nd February 2026

EDF has further pushed back the start-up of the UK’s flagship Hinkley

Point C nuclear plant, taking a €1.8bn charge and pushing up the final
bill for a project that has suffered several delays and cost overruns. The
French state energy company said the first of the two reactors at the 3.2
gigawatt project in Somerset would now begin operating in 2030, blaming
delays in “electromechanical work”. That compares with a previous
“best case” target of 2029, itself a two-year delay from an earlier
timetable. When the project was given the go-ahead in 2016, it was due to
come online in 2025. EDF said the plant was now expected to cost £35bn in
2015 prices — or almost £49bn at today’s prices — compared with a
previous range of £31bn-£34bn. The project was costed in 2016 at £18bn
in then-current prices. EDF warned that a further delay to 2031 would add
another £1bn.

 FT 20th Feb 2026 

 https://www.ft.com/content/3a1ccd4b-1faf-40e9-a53a-f7961cf16d62

 Telegraph 20th Feb 2026 

 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/02/20/hinkley-point-c-nuclear-power-station-costs-rise-to-48bn/

 New Civil Engineer 20th Feb 2026 

 https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/hinkley-point-cs-cost-climbs-to-35bn-with-confirmation-unit-1-will-power-up-in-2030-20-02-2026/

 Morning Star 20th Feb 2026 

 https://global.morningstar.com/en-gb/news/alliance-news/1771581195107325800/uks-hinkley-point-nuclear-plant-costs-raised-to-gbp35-billion-edf

 London South East 20th Feb 2026 

 https://www.lse.co.uk/news/edf-pushes-back-hinkley-point-c-start-date-to-2030-and-raises-cost-estimate-by-1-billion-pounds-4cx0xutd7e5p7di.html

 Schedule for the start of production by Unit 1 adjusted to 2030 and action
plans for the electromechanical work; completion cost estimated at £35 bn
(in 2015 sterling).

 EDF Annual Results 20th Feb 2026 

 https://www.edf.fr/en/2025-annual-results

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