Hinkley Point C nuclear reactor vessel lifted into place by world's largest crane Big Carl
okdiario.comThe world's largest land-based crane, Big Carl, lifted a 551-ton reactor pressure vessel into place at Hinkley Point C in Somerset. The move is a major construction milestone for the UK's largest low-carbon power project. EDF says the second reactor unit is being built 20 to 30 percent faster than the first, using lessons learned from the earlier work. Big Carl can reach heights of 820 feet and lift up to 5,500 tons. Using it for Unit 2 saved space, time, and money compared to the temporary system used for Unit 1. The vessel was placed with only 1.6 inches of clearance on each side, a sign of the precision required on nuclear sites. Hinkley Point C is expected to power 6 million homes with reliable low-carbon electricity. The faster pace of Unit 2 is being watched closely by energy companies and policymakers, especially as EDF plans to apply the same approach to the proposed Sizewell C project.