A Major Milestone Achieved at Hinkley Point C-2

Construction of the second reactor at Hinkley Point C passed a major milestone with the lifting of the first part of the massive steel containment liner.

Lifted by the world’s largest crane Big Carl, just nine months after the same lift for the first reactor, construction of the 170-tonne “liner cup” was 30% quicker than the identical part on Unit 1.

This is a learning from the construction of other EPR projects around the world.

The liner cup for Hinkley Point C’s second unit was built in 39 days versus 57 for the first.

The cup is one of more than 500 prefabricated steel and concrete elements that Big Carl will lift, including whole sections of buildings, walls and pre-cast air ducts.

The heaviest items weigh in at 1,600 tonnes.

The construction and lift were completed on schedule, despite workers having to adapt to Coronavirus working conditions.

The two 1,600-MW EPR units at Hinkley Point C are expected to meet 7% of UK demand.

Unit 1 is expected to begin power generation in 2025.