New footage has been released showing the latest progress of work at the new Hinkley Point C power station. The new film shows how 10,000 workers a day are approaching the next major engineering feat - when ‘Big Carl’ will lift the 245 tonne steel dome to close the first reactor building.
The tour goes out several miles under the seabed to see the final stages in the completion of the cooling water intakes. It also shows work on the 50m tall turbine hall, which will house the world’s largest Arabelle turbine.
Work to fit the miles of cables, pipes and equipment is also well underway. More than £5 billion has been spent with companies across the south west and 3,700 British companies have contracts with the project.
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The power station will provide six million homes with reliable, low-carbon energy, and will be vital in helping Britain achieve net zero and stronger energy security. Energy giant EDF has targeted June 2027 as the first operation of Hinkley Point C, and has already factored in construction delays and other factors.
Originally scheduled to be generating energy in 2025, Hinkley Point C has faced several delays due to reduced workforce and workflow challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as increasing costs. The project is expected to cost £26 billion in total, £3 billion more than originally budgeted.
Full construction of the power plant began in 2016 and it was originally estimated the project would cost £18 billion to build. EDF has a 66.5 per cent stake in Hinkley Point, while China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) owns the rest.
