The world's largest crane installed the dome on the first reactor building at Hinkley Point C

The year at the site of the two EPR reactors at Hinkley Point C in the UK was symbolically brought to a close with the successful installation of a dome on a reactor building. This significant milestone completed the roof of the first reactor building, paving the way for the first nuclear reactor to be installed there next year. The two EPRs, with a total electrical capacity of 3.2 GW, are expected to meet the electricity needs of six million British households. EDF, the contractor and investor at the UK site, is offering the Czech Republic a mid-sized version of this reactor with a capacity of 1200 MWe.

The dome was installed on the morning of 15 December, in a process that took around an hour and a half. The world's largest land-based crane, nicknamed Big Carl, lifted the 245-tonne steel component and set it precisely in place on top of the reactor building.

The dome forms the upper part of the reactor's inner containment structure. It measures 47 metres in diameter, making it larger than, for example, the dome of St Paul's Cathedral in London. It consists of 38 prefabricated panels, which were transported to Hinkley Point C and welded together at the on-site factory. Prefabrication and modular construction are key elements of the project.

“Installing the dome will allow us to continue assembling equipment, pipes and cables inside, as well as the reactor itself, which is already waiting on site,” said Simon Parsons, director of the nuclear island at Hinkley Point C.

Earlier in December, a 750-tonne polar crane was installed in the first reactor building. This indoor crane will rotate 360° above the reactor and will be used for refuelling and equipment installation.