March 2, 2023 – Framatome announces the delivery of the first reactor pressure vessel (RPV) for the Hinkley Point C EPR. Together with its customer NNB*, Framatome delivered the reactor vessel of Unit 1 in February, marking the completion of the manufacturing phase before the site installation in the reactor building.
“We congratulate the teams that safely manufactured and delivered this massive plant component that ensures the supply of safe, reliable nuclear power for the people of England,” said Bernard Fontana, CEO of Framatome. “We are proud to join our partners in advancing the HPC EPR project and contributing to the growth of the UK energy economy.”
Delivery of RPV to Hinkley Point C. © EDF Energy.
Framatome designed, engineered, manufactured and assembled the reactor pressure vessel and its closure head from its engineering division and component manufacturing facility in St. Marcel, France. The manufacturing operations of the RPV Unit 1 and cover head mobilized cross-functional teams since 2017, operating with safety and excellence in completing this large component that weighs 500 tons and is 13 meters long.
The RPV was transported by barge to Combwich Wharf on the River Parrett in Somerset.
Upon completion, the two units of the HPC nuclear power station will generate 3,200 MWe of low-carbon electricity to serve over six million British households.
The arrival of the reactor marks a significant milestone for Hinkley Point C, where more than 8,000 workers are now contributing on site every day. It will be installed in the reactor building after the dome is lifted into place.
The RPV is the largest component in a nuclear power plant. It houses the central reactor core where the nuclear fuel, control rods and coolant operate to produce steam for electricity generation. The RPV provides a critical role in the safety and integrity of the pressurized water reactor by providing one of many safety barriers in a power plant.
[*] NNB is the structure created by EDF Energy, EDF’s UK subsidiary for the Hinkley Point project, in partnership with the Chinese nuclear group CGNC (China General Nuclear Corporation).