The second nuclear reactor has been delivered to Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant, marking a major milestone before its planned 2029 opening.
The power station received its first nuclear reactor in 2023, which has subsequently been installed and welded in place on Unit 1 of the power station.
The delivery of the second ‘reactor pressure vessel’ is a major moment for the identical Unit 2. The pressure vessel harnesses nuclear fission to make heat and steam for the turbines. Each steel cylinder weighs in at 500 tonnes and is just 13 metres long.
Work on Unit 1 has moved onto the fitting out of pipes, cables and equipment, while Unit 2 is focused on the completion of its buildings following the lifting of the dome last year. According to EDF, the experience gained by the team from constructing Unit 1 should allow Unit 2 to be constructed 20-30% faster, with prefabrication now approaching 60%.
The reactor was shipped from the Framatome Saint-Marcel factory in France to Avonmouth Docks in...