New documentary shines a light behind the scenes of Heysham 2
Heysham 2 power station is the focal point of ‘Inside Nuclear’, a new documentary providing an access-all-areas peek into nuclear power generation.
Produced by plant operator, EDF, and hosted by engineer and Channel 5 TV presenter Rob Bell, the documentary offers an in-depth tour of the impressive facility located on the Lancashire coast.
As he delves into the intricate processes of nuclear energy generation, Rob explores areas of the plant rarely seen by members of the public, meeting skilled engineers along the way, and even standing on top of a nuclear reactor.
Throughout the 30-minute film, Rob explores the station’s advanced engineering, commitment to safety and its vital role in providing the UK with zero-carbon electricity.
Rob Bell said: “I’m very lucky with the places I get to visit and explore in my job. I came away from Heysham 2 power station having learnt lots of interesting things about the engineering, economics, and practicalities of its operation.
“Everyone I met was very generous with their time and candid about their work, they were happy to help us tell the story, and I’m delighted with the result.”
With stunning views over the bay and the remarkable power station as the backdrop, this film gives viewers a special insight into the inner workings of the station, which has been a part of the local community for more than 40 years.
Heysham 2 power station is one of five operational nuclear plants in the UK. The station houses two Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors (AGR), which produce over 1200 MW of electricity, enough to power over two million homes.
Heysham 2 Station Director, Martin Cheetham said: “It was great to be able to open our doors to Rob and allow him to really get beneath the surface of what we do here. We have a visitor centre and offer public tours, but we know that not everyone can make it here in person.
“I think this film will really help people far and wide understand what a great facility we have here at Heysham 2 and how important nuclear power is in the journey towards net zero.”
Despite being one of the younger AGR stations in the UK’s nuclear fleet, Heysham 2 is on course to be the nation’s most productive. Unlike other forms of energy generation, nuclear stations can be used whatever the weather to supply steady and reliable home-grown energy.
Since it began generating in 1988, Heysham 2 power station has produced more than 300TWh of electricity, which is enough to power the whole of Lancashire for 147 years.
When EDF took over the nuclear fleet in 2009, Heysham 2 was due to stop generating in 2023 after 35 years of operation. Its current end of generation date is March 2028 but EDF’s ambition is to generate for longer, subject to plant inspections and regulatory oversight. A decision on life extension is expected before the end of 2024.
You can watch ‘Inside Nuclear’ on YouTube by following this link.
About EDF
EDF is driving the transition towards An Electric Britain – a secure, affordable, low-carbon future for everyone. As Britain’s biggest generator of zero carbon electricity, we are investing more than £100 million weekly in Britain’s electricity infrastructure. We supply millions of customers with electricity and help homes and businesses switch to electricity for heating, transport and industrial processes.
We operate five nuclear power stations and more than 35 onshore wind farms and three offshore wind farms. Since 2009, EDF has invested almost £9 billion in the nuclear fleet to improve reliability and extend station lifetimes. The five generating stations currently supply about 12% of the UK’s electricity demand.
EDF is building the UK's nuclear renaissance with the construction of a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C. We are a minority investor (12.5%) in and major supplier to a replica plant at Sizewell C in Suffolk. Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C will provide low carbon electricity to meet 14% of UK demand and power around 12 million homes. EDF Group companies Framatome and Arabelle Solutions have a presence in the UK and manufacture critical equipment such as reactor pressure vessels and turbines.
EDF is enabling its 5 million customers, both in business and at home, to choose electric solutions that save cash and carbon, whether it is buying an electric car, generating and storing electricity, selling energy back to the grid or installing solar panels or a heat pump. In 2025, EDF’s Customers business was ranked as one of the Sunday Times’s Best Place to Work.
It is also one of the UK’s leading developers of renewable energy through EDF power solutions UK and Ireland. We have more than 2GW of renewable generation in operation and over 10GW in construction, planning and development across a range of technologies including onshore and offshore wind, solar and battery storage.
We are one of the largest suppliers to British business and a leading supplier of innovative energy solutions that are helping businesses become more energy independent. In addition, the company’s energy services business, Dalkia, one of the UK and Ireland’s largest technical service providers.
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