Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station

Hartlepool nuclear power station stands on the northern bank of the River Tees, four kilometres south of Hartlepool in County Durham. It is built on the edge of the Durham coalfield near the seaside resort of Seaton Carew. The station uses two advanced gas-cooled reactors to produce 1,185 megawatts of electricity. This output meets two per cent of Great Britain’s peak demand of sixty gigawatts. The reactors were housed in prestressed concrete pressure vessels to address safety concerns close to an urban area. The power station was the third in the United Kingdom to adopt advanced gas-cooled reactor technology. Construction began in 1969 after earlier delays and cost overruns, including a £25 million setback in 1970. The first unit started generating electricity in 1983, the second in 1985. Fuel is delivered via a 2.4-kilometre branch line from the Durham Coast Line. A new visitor centre opened in 2013, hosting safety education events for schoolchildren. Visitors find a modern visitor centre with interactive displays and educational programmes. The site includes the turbine hall where a small fire occurred in 2013, quickly controlled without nuclear risk. Nearby beaches occasionally receive biodegradable cleaning balls released from the cooling system. The station’s presence shapes the industrial skyline of Teesside and supports the local grid.