Final contracts for the construction of two EPR plants at Hinkley Point C were signed on 29 September 2016. Since then, 3,600 British companies have won contracts on the project.
In an update on the project, which is likely to see cost increases and delays because of the Covid-19 pandemic, EDF Energy said the next prefabricated 17m high section of the first reactor building is complete and ready to be lifted into place by the “Big Carl” crane, which is the world’s largest.
Work to build the 16m-high floor for the first turbine and generator is under way, ready for the world’s most powerful “Arabelle” turbine, which arrives later this year. Each turbine can produce more than 3% of the nation’s electricity, enough for more than three million homes.
EDF Energy said work to install the 230 miles (370 km) of pipes and 5,500 miles (8,851 km) of cables is underway. Training for the first cohort of power station operators has begun.
The two EPR units under construction at Hinkley Point C are the only commercial nuclear plants being built in the UK. EDF Energy’s parent company EDF’s share in the project is 66.5% with China General Nuclear holding 33.5%.
In January, EDF said the cost of Hinkley Point C is expected to rise by up to £500m with commercial operation of the first unit delayed by about six months.
The French state-controlled utility said the project completion costs are now estimated in the range of £22bn to £23bn, compared with projected costs of £21.5bn and £22.5bn announced in 2019.
The company warned that the Covid-19 pandemic had caused delays of three months in 2020 and was expected to lead to similar delays in 2021, too.
EDF said significant progress has been made on the site in Somerset but the start of electricity generation from the first of two EPR units is now expected in June 2026, compared with previous estimates of the end of 2025.
