National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) has extended its contract with EDF to turn down output from its Sizewell B nuclear plant in Suffolk.
The company has already been contracted to reduce generation from one of the turbines at the plant between 7 May and 19 June to help cope with low demand on the transmission network as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The agreement has now been extended until at least 10 August.
The ESO said the extension will give “vital additional options to our control room engineers as they manage the stability of the electricity system.”
“The one-off contract supports a cost efficient and secure outcome for consumers as we take a range of actions to operate the system at very low demands,” it added in an update. “To further protect consumers the contract is time limited and has built-in review points to ensure we continue to assess the cost/benefit of the contract.”
It said each of the two periods of the contract is expected to cost between £17 million and £23 million, depending on market prices.
National Grid said the turbine that has been switched off may be turned back on for a short period of time between now and 10 August in order to meet maintenance requirements, adding that it will provide a further update if it decides to proceed with this action.