Hinkley Point C gets Britain’s first new nuclear reactor in 30 years

Workers installed the first of two 13 metre long “reactor pressure vessels”, which will produce enough energy alone to generate reliable low carbon electricity for three million homes.

With two units, the power station will provide Britain with seven per cent of its electricity.

The major milestone comes less than 12 months after the huge steel dome was lifted in place to close the reactor building. 

The reactor is the first to be installed at a British power station since Sizewell B’s in 1991.

This follows the government’s planned £5.5 billion injection into the development of the proposed Sizewell C, sat adjacent to the Sizewell B plant and the decommissioned Sizewell A plant in Suffolk. 

At full capacity, it is hoped Sizewell C will provide power to the equivalent of six million homes over 60 years.

The installation of the nuclear reactor at Hinkley Point C marks a step forward in the fit out of the power station with equipment.

Once operational, each unit aims to contribute significantly to the UK’s energy security and help Britain achieve net-zero.

How they did it

The “reactor pressure vessel” (RPV) is a 500-tonne steel container that holds nuclear fuel used to make heat to produce steam for the world’s largest turbine, from Arabelle Solutions.

The RPV, manufactured by Framatome in France, arrived at Hinkley Point C in February last year, stored there until the installation was complete.

The RPV was lifted onto rails and inserted through a 19.5m high equipment hatch In a precision operation, before being rotated by the large internal polar crane and lowered onto a support ring with just 40mm clearance on either side. 

It will be flanked by four 25 metre high steam generators due to be fitted next year.

The manufacturing process there has been ongoing regulatory oversight from the Office for Nuclear Regulation to ensure the high technical standards are met.

See how they did it:

Energy secretary Ed Miliband said: “Installing the first reactor pressure vessel at Hinkley Point C is a significant feat of engineering and a major step forward for the UK’s most advanced nuclear project.

“Getting Hinkley up and running to produce clean power for six million homes will be a win for our long-term energy independence, protecting billpayers as we accelerate to net zero.”

Stuart Crooks, Hinkley Point C managing director, said: “This is an important moment, not just for the team at Hinkley Point C, but also for everyone who wants to see the UK deliver energy security, fight climate change and provide power for our AI and digital future. 

“We are working hard to play our part and using the experience gained delivering the first reactor to drive efficiencies in building our second one. 

“That experience will also benefit follow-on projects, such as Sizewell C, as well as boosting jobs and skills for the UK’s growth agenda.”

Laing O’Rourke and Bouygues TP (Bylor) are delivering main civil engineering works at the power station worth over £2.8 billion, constructing the buildings that will house the two European Pressurised Reactor nuclear reactors. 

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