鈥淏ig Carl鈥�, the world鈥檚 largest crane, lifted the 24-tonne, 47m-wide, steel dome into place on Friday morning, closing the roof to allow the first reactor to be installed next year.
Big Carl (officially designated SGC-250) is a platform-mounted lattice-boom crane designed, built, owned and operated by Belgian heavy-lift specialist Sarens. 聽It can lift up to 5,000 tonnes at a radius of 40 metres, and lays claim to the title of the world鈥檚 strongest land-based聽crane, although there are larger cranes used at sea in the offshore industry.
The lift, starting at 07:20, was carefully planned to take advantage of a weather window to allow the hour-and-a-half long manoeuvre to be completed in low wind conditions.
The dome鈥痠s the top part of the reactor building鈥檚 inner containment, a steel cylinder encased in concrete. Measuring 47m in diameter, it is wider than the dome of St Paul鈥檚 Cathedral and is made up of 38 prefabricated panels which were shipped to Hinkley Point C and welded together in an onsite factory.鈥�疨refabrication and modular construction are key features of Hinkley Point C鈥檚 construction.
Earlier this month, the 750 tonne polar crane was lifted into place in a single piece above the reactor building鈥檚 third, and final, steel liner ring. This internal crane rotates through 360掳 above the reactor and will be used for refuelling and installing equipment.
Simon Parsons, nuclear island area director for EDF, said:聽鈥淟ifting the dome allows us to get on with the fitting of equipment, pipes and cables, including the first reactor which is on site and ready to be installed next year.鈥� 聽
Nuclear Minister Andrew Bowie said:聽鈥淭his is a major milestone in building Britain鈥檚 first nuclear reactor in a generation, and a key part of the UK Government鈥檚 plans to revitalise nuclear. 聽
鈥淕enerating enough zero-carbon power for six million homes, Hinkley Point C will reduce our reliance on imported energy and support our shift to net zero.鈥� 聽
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