Teams ‘catching up on lost time’ after project was hit by pandemic
The world’s largest crane, ‘Big Carl’, has successfully placed the 245-tonne dome onto Hinkley Point C’s second reactor building, marking a major step forward for construction of the UK power station’s second unit.
The 14-metre-tall dome closes the 44-metre-high reactor building, allowing its fit-out to accelerate.
Work on Unit 2 was stopped during the pandemic, but EDF Energy, the UK division of French state power company EDF, which is majority owner of the project, said teams are catching up on lost time.
Their progress has been helped by experience from Unit 1, which means Unit 2 is expected to take 20-30% less time to build.
EDF Energy said the twin EPR nuclear power plants, each with a net capacity of 1,630 MW, will provide zero-carbon electricity for more than six million homes, boosting Britain’s energy security for decades to come.
Although the second dome was lifted 18 months after the first, Unit 2 is further ahead, compared to the same moment for Unit 1. According to EDF Energy, prefabrication in factories on and offsite is driving gains in productivity, safety and quality, with giant steel structures and complete rooms now being lifted in.
Hinkley Point C, in Somerset, southwest England, is the first nuclear station to be built in Britain for 30 years, restarting a supply chain and industry after a long pause.
In January 2024 EDF said the project had been delayed until 2029 at the earliest, with the cost potentially increasing to as much as £46bn at today’s prices and the company blaming Covid, Brexit and inflation.
Other contributing factors have included cost increases in civil engineering, labour and material shortages.
When approval was first given in 2016 the cost was estimated at £18bn and operation was expected by 2025.
First Unit Could Be Operational In 2029
Under EDF’s latest scenario, one of the two planned units could be operational in 2029. But it could be further delayed to 2031 in adverse conditions, EDF said.
Stuart Crooks, chief executive officer of Hinkley Point C, said: “Restarting the industry has been hard, but the second of our two identical units shows the big benefits of repeating an identical design.
“Build and Repeat is the best way to build new nuclear with time savings already at 20-30%. All our experience and innovation will benefit Sizewell C from the start.”
The Sizewell C project, which will also have two EPRs, moved a step closer to realisation recently after EDF said it will invest £1.1bn (€1.2bn, $1.5bn).
Nuclear energy is seen by the UK government as crucial to a mixed power supply – providing a backbone of low-carbon power alongside renewables, which is the only way to bring down bills by ending the UK’s dependence on fossil fuel markets.
Hinkley Point C is owned by a joint venture between EDF (66.5%) and China General Nuclear Power Group (33.5%). The project is held by NNB Generation Company, a subsidiary of EDF.
The dome being placed on the reactor building at Hinkley Point C-2. Courtesy EDF Energy.
