Third 423-tonne 'liner ring' installed at second reactor at Hinkley Point C

Construction continues on the second reactor building - ahead of the site's opening

Hinkley Point C
Author: Oliver MorganPublished 15th Oct 2024

Another milestone has been reached in the construction of Somerset's Hinkley Point C nuclear power station.

The third and final 'liner ring' - weighing 423 tonnes - is now in place in the second reactor.

Earlier this year, we were given a peek 'behind the scenes', as bosses at EDF revealed the next phase was all about installing the first nuclear reactor, the steam generators and the world’s largest turbine.

Read more: Hinkley Point C: New update as construction ramps up

In their latest update on the second reactor, we now know that the third and final liner ring has been lifted into place by giant crane, called Big Carl.

The buildng will be home to one of Hinkley Point C’s two nuclear reactors.

The steel ring, which is 11.6-metres in height and 47-metres in diameter, forms part of the inner containment wall of the reactor building and will now be encased in two layers of concrete.

The reactor building now only has the ‘lid’ to be placed on top, with the dome lift scheduled for next year.

The first reactor building was capped with its own dome last December and is ready for the Reactor to be installed later this year.

Read more: Dome 'wider than St Paul's Cathedral' lifted into place at Hinkley Point C

The site will eventually power around 6 million homes.

The power station will supply 6-million homes with clean, homegrown energy and is crucial in helping the UK avoid another energy crisis.

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