| Work Detail |
The installation of all 116 T-pylons along the 57-kilometre transmission route that runs from Hinkley to Seabank, near Avonmouth has been completed. This comes almost two years since the first T-pylon was constructed back in September 2021.
Each of the pylons has a single pole and T-shaped cross arms that hold the high-voltage conductors in a diamond ‘earring’ shape. At 35 metres high, the pylons are one-third shorter than National Grid’s traditional lattice transmission pylons. They also take up less room on the land.
The last of the T-structures’ 232 diamond-shaped insulators was recently lifted into place on a T-pylon between Yatton and Kenn in North Somerset. 36 new T-pylons between Woolavington and Loxton were also energised in March. All the T-pylons will be energised by the end of 2024.
Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant project overview
Hinkley Point C is a 3,260MW nuclear power plant under construction in Somerset, South West England, UK. It is the first new nuclear power facility to be built in the UK since 1995 or rather in more than 20 years.
The project is expected to power over 6 million homes. It will also create 25,000 employment opportunities and more than 1,000 apprenticeships. Hinkley Point C is projected to have lasting benefits for the UK economy.
The nuclear plant will sit on a 175-ha site on Somerset’s north coast on Bridgwater Bay. It will be adjacent to the existing Hinkley Point A and B nuclear power plants. Before Hinkley Point C, the 500MW Hinkley Point A was commissioned in 1965. The facility was decommissioned in 2000. It was followed by the 965MW Hinkley Point B which was commissioned in 1979. This is expected to be decommissioned in 2023.
The Hinkley Point C will be equipped with two reactors and is estimated to cost $28 billion. The construction of the project was launched in 2017 after being approved by the UK government in September 2016.
The UK government is making a lot of investments as it seeks to revitalize its nuclear power industry. The Hinkley Point C is expected to make significant moves toward the reduction of carbon emissions. The power from the nuclear plant is expected to offset 9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year. This will be equal to 600 million tonnes over its 60-year lifespan.
Financing for Hinkley Point C
EDF and CGNP will fully finance the Hinkley Point C nuclear power project. The total cost of the project as of 2016 was expected to amount to $59.8 billion. This cost was inclusive of construction, nuclear waste management, operation, and decommissioning costs.
In September 2015, the UK government promised a $2.6 billion debt guarantee for the project. In October 2015, China General Nuclear Power (CGNP) agreed to invest $7.89 billion in the project.
The Hinkley Point C nuclear power project is also guaranteed a strike price of around $156 for every megawatt-hour (MWh) according to 2012 prices. This pricing will apply to power produced for a period of 35 years and is part of the deal finalized by the UK government in September 2016.
World’s biggest crane deployed for Hinkley Point C construction
The Big Carl (SGC-250) has been installed on-site for the construction of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power project. Big Carl is a 250m-tall and 5,000t capacity super heavy lift ring crane that has 96 individual wheels on 6km of rails. The crane was installed on the site in September 2016. The crane was designed and operated by Sarens, a Belgian crane rental company. |
