Hinkley Point C nuclear plant delayed to 2030 as costs climb to £35bn

The Guardian - World NewsEN 2 min read 100% complete by Jillian AmbroseFebruary 20, 2026 at 12:57 PM

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Hinkley Point C, Britain's first new nuclear plant in a generation located in Somerset, will be delayed until 2030, a year later than previously planned. This delay will cost EDF, the French utility company overseeing the project, an additional €2.5 billion, bringing the total cost to £35 billion, almost double the initial 2016 estimate. Once operational, Hinkley Point C is expected to supply approximately 7% of Britain's electricity demand. The project, along with Sizewell C, is a key component of the UK government's strategy to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and meet climate targets. However, both projects have faced criticism for running over budget and schedule, contributing to a decline in EDF's full-year earnings. UK energy bill payers are expected to pay more than £2bn a year in subsidies to EDF for the electricity generated at the nuclear plants once they are online.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Italy 30% Somerset 40% Suffolk 40% United Kingdom 50% Bernard Fontana 50% Flamanville 60% Sizewell C ×270% France ×370% Britain ×280% Hinkley Point C ×390% EDF (Électricité de France) ×1095%

Keywords

nuclear plant 100% hinkley point c 90% cost overruns 80% project delay 80% edf 70% nuclear energy 60% electricity generation 50% fossil fuels 40% climate targets 40%