Briefing | Nuclear family

Energy security gives climate-friendly nuclear-power plants a new appeal

To make good on it they have to get easier to build

A crane lifts a prefabricated steel containment ring into position at the nuclear Reactor Unit 1, at Hinkley Point C nuclear power station construction site, near Bridgwater, U.K., on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020. The world's largest crane, affectionately known as Big Carl, hoisted the first of three massive steel rings that will encase one of the reactors at Electricite de France SA's nuclear construction site in the U.K., a key milestone in getting the project completed on time. Photographer: Luke MacGregor/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Jun 23rd 2022|HINKLEY POINT

The world’s largest crane, Big Carl, trundles up and down the railway which bisects the site. To the south are cavernous temporary structures which serve as factory floors, sheltered from the elements, cranking out modules of steel and concrete. Big Carl (pictured, above) takes gentle hold of these components, lifts, turns and gently sets them down. Piece by gigantic piece, the newest nuclear power plant in the Western world is taking shape. When it is finished its two nuclear reactors will be able to supply Britain’s grid with 3.2 gigawatts (gw) of power, providing about 7% of the country’s electricity needs.

This article appeared in the Briefing section of the print edition under the headline “Nuclear family”