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AGR

The AGR is a Generation II gas-cooled reactor. 8 units are operating and 0 are under construction, out of 15 on record.

Operating
8
5.3 GW gross
Under construction
0
Planned
0
Cancelled
0
7 retired

The Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor, Britain's successor to Magnox, running enriched uranium oxide in stainless steel cladding at gas outlet temperatures around 640 °C — the highest thermal efficiency of any commercial reactor fleet. Operated by EDF Energy. Graphite core ageing, not the fuel or the vessel, sets their retirement dates; the fleet is closing through the 2020s and 2030s.

Design
Vendorbuilt by consortium, no single vendor
Reactor typeGas-cooled reactor (GCR)
GenerationII
Capacity range555–660 MWe gross
CoolantCarbon dioxide
Typical enrichmentNatural uranium to 2.5–3.5% U-235
Where it is built
United Kingdom 15 units, 8 operating

All AGR units

UnitCountryStatusGross MWOnline
Hartlepool nuclear power plant A1 United Kingdom Operating 655 1989
Hartlepool nuclear power plant A2 United Kingdom Operating 655 1989
Heysham nuclear power plant A1 United Kingdom Operating 625 1989
Heysham nuclear power plant A2 United Kingdom Operating 625 1989
Heysham nuclear power plant B1 United Kingdom Operating 680 1989
Heysham nuclear power plant B2 United Kingdom Operating 680 1989
Torness nuclear power plant 1 United Kingdom Operating 682 1988
Torness nuclear power plant 2 United Kingdom Operating 682 1989
Dungeness nuclear power plant B1 United Kingdom Retired 615 1985
Dungeness nuclear power plant B2 United Kingdom Retired 615 1989
Hinkley Point nuclear power plant B1 United Kingdom Retired 655 1978
Hinkley Point nuclear power plant B2 United Kingdom Retired 655 1976
Hunterston nuclear power plant B1 United Kingdom Retired 644 1976
Hunterston nuclear power plant B2 United Kingdom Retired 644 1977
Windscale AGR nuclear power plant United Kingdom Retired 36 1963

Sources