Construction workers at EDF Energy’s Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset, UK, have installed the facility’s second reactor pressure vessel using Big Carl, the world’s largest crane.
The operation involved lifting a 500t, 13m-long cylindrical vessel and positioning it inside the reactor building, marking a shift in methodology from the installation of the first reactor, which used a temporary overhead lifting system.
EDF Energy said that the decision to use Big Carl for Unit 2 aimed to save space, reduce costs, and enhance efficiency compared to previous methods.
The new approach is reported to have contributed to a faster build for Unit 2. Construction is proceeding 20-30% more quickly than Unit 1 as teams apply lessons from previous experience with the site’s identical reactor design.
After its delivery to the site, workers used an internal “polar” crane to lift and rotate the vessel into a vertical position before lowering it onto a support ring, leaving just 40mm clearance on either side.
The installation comes under a year after the steel dome was placed on top of the second reactor building.
Compared with Unit 1 at a similar stage, Unit 2 has more equipment and structural steel work installed, with the outer containment layer already in place.
Three large heat exchangers have also been fitted to Unit 2, whereas none had been installed at the same point during Unit 1’s build.
Once operational, the reactor pressure vessel will facilitate nuclear fission, generating heat and steam for the Arabelle turbines.
Hinkley Point C’s two reactors are expected to supply electricity to six million homes and contribute to reducing the need for imported fossil fuels.
In February 2025, Modulift partnered with MEH Alliance for the installation of mechanical, electrical, and HVAC components at Hinkley Point C.
