Hinkley Point C in Somerst has taken delivery of its second nuclear reactor, marking a major milestone for the twin-unit power station. The first reactor arrived in 2023 and is already installed and welded in place on Unit 1.
The arrival of the second reactor pressure vessel is a key moment for Unit 2. The high-strength steel cylinder weighs 500 tonnes and measures 13m in length. It will harness nuclear fission to generate heat and steam for the world’s largest turbines, with each unit capable of powering around three million homes continuously.
Work on Unit 1 has progressed to the installation of pipes, cables and equipment, while Unit 2 is focused on completing its buildings following the successful dome lift in July last year. Thanks to innovation and lessons learned from Unit 1, construction of Unit 2 is 20–30% faster, with prefabrication now approaching 60%.
The reactor was manufactured at
Framatome’s Saint Marcel factory in France and shipped to Avonmouth Docks in Bristol. It was then transported by barge to Combwich Wharf on the River Parrett in Somerset before making its final four-mile journey to the site on 11 January, a six-hour trip by road on a specialist transporter.
Simon Parsons, Hinkley Point C programme director, said: “The delivery of the second reactor is another huge achievement for the project and a testament to the hard work and collaboration of teams across the UK and France. It brings us another step closer to generating low-carbon electricity for millions of homes.”