The “reactor pressure vessel” will create the heat needed to make steam for the world’s largest turbines and is just 13-metres long weighing 500-tonnes,
It is the first of two nuclear reactors which will be installed at Hinkley Point C and each reactor will help provide enough low carbon electricity for 3 million homes.
The reactor made by Framatome comes from the same factory which made the last nuclear reactor for a British power station at Sizewell B in Suffolk. It became operational in 1995.
The reactor first arrived in Britain at Avonmouth Docks in Bristol before being transported by barge to Combwich Wharf on the River Parrett in Somerset. The final journey was a five hour trip for four miles by a transporter to its permanent home on the construction site.
It will be installed in the reactor building after the dome is lifted into place. More than 8,000 workers are currently on site daily on the project where the BYLOR JV of Bouygues and Laing O’Rourke is main contractor.
