THE second of two nuclear reactors for Hinkley Point C has been lifted into place before its precision installation inside its reactor building.

The world’s largest crane, Big Carl, was used to lift the 500-tonne cylinder in an innovation for unit two in another example of the contractors finding ways to improve performance since the first reactor was fitted.

The first nuclear reactor was lifted using a large, temporary overhead lifting system.

Using Big Carl saved space, time, and money.

Once inside the reactor building, the 42 feet long reactor pressure vessel was lifted and rotated into a vertical position by the large internal ‘polar’ crane and lowered carefully onto a support ring with just a 1.7-inch clearance on either side.

The installation comes less than 12 months since a huge steel dome was lifted into place to close the second reactor building.

Unit two is being built 20 to 30 per cent more quickly than the first unit thanks to innovation and experience of building an identical design with the same teams.

The second reactor building is further ahead than at the same stage for the first, with more equipment installed, as well as more structural steel work and the outer containment layer already in place.

Three large heat exchangers have been installed in unit two, compared with none at the same point in time on unit one.

Hinkley Point C delivery director Simon Parsons said: “This marks a tremendous achievement by the entire team and one that has taken months of planning and close co-ordination between the 10 main contractors involved.

“We have also seen strong innovation to achieve not just a ‘cut and paste’ from the first reactor’s installation, but using our experience to save time, money, and disruption to the site.

“Importantly, we are also applying those lessons to put unit two well ahead of the first unit’s position at the equivalent stage, with more materials in place and more work achieved.”

The advantages and innovations will benefit construction of Britain’s next planned nuclear power station, Sizewell C, in Suffolk, from the start.

The reactor pressure vessel uses nuclear fission to make heat and steam for the world’s largest turbines, the Arabelle.

Together, the two Hinkley reactors will power six million homes around the clock with reliable, low carbon electricity, cutting the UK’s reliance on imported fossil fuels.

Hinkley C’s second reactor lifting and installation operation took two days, beginning on Thursday morning (May 28) and being completed at about 4.40 pm on Friday.

The reactor was manufactured in Framatome’s Saint Marcel factory, in France, before being shipped to the construction site in January this year.

Big Carl is the Sarens SGC-250 and officially the world’s largest land-based crane at over 820 feet high in its tallest set up and capable of lifting up to 5,000 tonnes.

Hinkley C’s first nuclear reactor is currently due to start generating power by 2029, with the second unit coming online the following year.