The French state-controlled company EDF Energy has announced that last year it has generated its highest amount of nuclear power in the UK for the last eight years, increasing its earnings by 1.4 per cent to £1.69bn from £1.67 in 2012, driven by the performance of its eight nuclear power stations. According to the company’s annual results, the nuclear power output rose by 0.5 TWh attaining 60.5 TWh in 2013.

The company revealed last year its intention to invest £16 billion in a plan aiming the construction of a new nuclear site at Hinkley Point C in Somerset, but the project encounters some obstacles counting a state aid approval by the European Commission, which started an inquiry on the scheme on December last year. EDF Energy has also announced that it hopes to extend the life of its nuclear plant Dungeness B until 2028. EDF, which currently provides energy to about 3.9 million households, being one of the so-called Big Six UK energy suppliers, augmented its domestic tariffs by 3.9% as of January, a lower increase in comparison to many of its competitors. EDF Group, parent organization of EDF Energy, controls the major civil nuclear fleet worldwide, with existing and planned nuclear power stations in France, UK, US and China. At present, EDF Energy holds and operates 15 nuclear plants at eight nuclear power stations in the UK, at a total capacity of almost 8.8 million kW, which is a large proportion, knowing that the UK's total installed electricity generation capacity from all energy sources attains almost 85 million kW.