What is Wylfa? The long and complex story explained

Since 2021, Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak have both made commitments for a new nuclear power plant at Wylfa

Wylfa has been chosen as the preferred location for a large nuclear power plant.

The site, which has a long and complicated history, has hit the headlines many times in recent years.

What is Wylfa?

Wylfa is an old nuclear power station off the coast of Anglesey, in north west Wales.

It was built in the 1960s and first began generating electricity in 1971, employing thousands of workers.

In 2015, Wylfa's last reactor was closed down and it began the long process of being decommissioned, ending 44 years of operations at the site.

Wylfa power station pictured in 1995

Why did Wylfa power station close?

Most nuclear power plants have operating lifespans of 30-40 years, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

When Wylfa closed, it was Britain's oldest.

It was owned and operated by Magnox, which had stopped producing the fuel required to run the plant in 2008, according to the UK government.

Wylfa's first reactor shut down in 2012 before the site closed completely in 2015.

What was Wylfa Newydd?

At some point, you've probably heard about Wylfa Newydd.

This was the name of a plan for a new nuclear reactor to be built at the site.

The company behind the plan was Horizon Nuclear Power.

Horizon first announced plans to develop a new nuclear reactor at the site in 2009, years before the old Wylfa plant closed.

A computer generated image of the proposed Wylfa Newydd site

In 2012, the Japanese company Hitachi said it would buy Horizon in a £700m deal, described as a major step forward by the former prime minister David Cameron.

It was hoped that up to 6,000 jobs would be created during the construction phase, and 1,200 long-term jobs at the site once it was operational.

But in 2019 the plans were paused, and in January 2021 the plans were scrapped entirely.

Why was Wylfa Newydd scrapped?

When Hitachi first paused the plans for Wylfa Newydd, it said spiralling costs were to blame.

The company withdrew its funding for the project entirely in 2020, as it said it had failed to reach a funding agreement with the UK government.

The UK government said the news was "deeply disappointing" and that it had offered a "significant package" of potential support.

In January 2021, just months after Hitachi pulled out of the plan, Horizon Nuclear Power dropped its planning bid for the site entirely.

Wylfa power station in 2008

What are the new Wylfa plans?

In 2021, then Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK government was looking at proposals for a new nuclear power plant at Wylfa.

Mr Johnson claimed previous governments had failed to take "tough decisions" on nuclear technology.

In 2023, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Wylfa could be one of the UK government's preferred sites for a new nuclear power station.

Then, in March of this year, the UK government said it would buy the Wylfa site from the previous developer Hitachi for £160m.

Finally, in May, the UK government said Wylfa was its preferred site for a new nuclear power station.

It said international energy companies had begun talks with the government to start building the new plant.

How many jobs will be created at Wylfa?

UK government Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho said the site would provide "thousands of well-paid jobs".

For comparison's sake, it is understood that the new power station at Wylfa would be on a similar scale to Hinkley, in Somerset, which is still under construction but is expected to be operational by 2031.

In 2021, EDF said about 6,300 staff were employed at the Hinkley site.

Hinkley power station, in Somerset, under construction

How long will it take for Wylfa to be built?

For all of the anticipation that the site will once again generate nuclear power, the reality of securing an operator and delivering the project requires years of planning and investment.

The Welsh Secretary, David TC Davies, said he would not “put a date” on when a power station could be built and ready for production, but said Wylfa was "destined to have a nuclear power station”.

Asked if a new power station would be ready by 2040, he said: "It’s traditionally taken a long-ish time."