THE world’s largest crane Big Carl, which has been working on the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station construction project for nearly three years, has ended 2022 on a high.

The 820 feet tall Big Carl – named after the man whose Belgian company built it – carried out a massive lift at the weekend thanks to still wind conditions which allowed it to take place.

A 304 tonne steel liner ring was lifted on to Hinkley C’s first reactor building in the early hours of Sunday.

It was the third and final ring to be installed on the building, which will eventually contain one of Hinkley C’s two nuclear reactors.

The unit has now grown in height by 38 feet and now stands at 144 feet high.

The liner ring, which was prefabricated in a factory on site, also features supporting brackets for an internal polar crane beam which will rotate 360 degrees above the reactor and be used for refuelling.

Big Carl world's largest crane Hinkley Point C
A reactor building liner is lifted into position by Big arm. (EDF)

Only the ‘lid’ remains to be placed on top of the reactor building, with the iconic dome lift scheduled for next year.

Big Carl’s latest lift highlights the progress being made at Hinkley Point C, where teams are working 24/7 to make the plant operational as soon as possible.

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