The largest crane in the world, Sarens’ ‘Big Carl’, has completed a series of heavy lifts on the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station project in Somerset.
Working on the power station for publicly owned Electricite de France, the world’s largest crane recently placed a 750-tonne polar above the reactor building’s third steel liner ring, where it will be used for refuelling and installing equipment. Additionally, ‘Big Carl’ also placed a 47m wide, 245-tonne dome onto Hinkley Point C’s first building on December 15, accelerating the project to allow the first reactor to be installed next year.
“Building the first nuclear power station in a generation is a challenging job and the success of this complex operation is due to the determination and commitment of our fantastic teams,” said Simon Parsons, Nuclear Island Area Director. “Lifting 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.”
Engineering teams lifted the 245-tonne steel dome into place on top of the reactor, with the achievement ending the year on a high for the Hinkley Point C team as the 14m-tall dome sits on top of the 44-m-high reactor building. According to EDF, the lift – which began early in the morning – was carefully planned to take advantage of forecasted low wind conditions that allowed the hour-and-a-half long manoeuvre to go ahead as planned.
“This is a major milestone in building Britain’s first nuclear reactor in a generation, and a key part of the UK Government’s plans to revitalise nuclear,” said the UK’s Nuclear Minister, Andrew Browne. “Generating 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.”
Believed to be the most powerful land-based crane in the world, Sarens’ ‘Big Carl’ – part of the Sarens Giant Crane range – is capable of lifting 5000 tonnes at a radius of 40m, can be configured to a height of 250m, is supported by 52 counterweight containers weighing 100 tonnes, and can lift a whopping 2000 tonnes at a radius of 100m.
The Hinkley Point C nuclear power station is projected to power six million homes in the UK with “zero carbon electricity”, according to a press release from EDF.
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