Video: second dome lift at Hinkley Point C on 17 July

Flying the second Hinkley Point C reactor dome on 17 July. Video frame: EDF Energy

Sarens’ Big Carl super heavy lift ring crane was lifting the second dome into place from the early hours (UK time) on 17 July 2025 at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station construction project.

Hinkley’s second steel reactor dome, weighs 245 tonnes. The lift was underway using the 5,000 tonne capacity SGC 250 super heavy lift ring crane nicknamed Big Carl. It is owned by Belgium-based global heavy lift and transport specialist Sarens.

The dome is 14 metres tall and now sits atop the 44 metre reactor building, having been lifted in from where it was constructed at ground level on site within reach of the giant crane. After installation the fit-out phase begins.

See the video here.

Experience gained from building the first reactor, Unit 1, saved time building Unit 2. EDF Energy, owner of the project, said, “on Unit 2’s civil construction, fewer people on site will have achieved 40 per cent more work than on Unit 1,” after the same amount of time. Assembling the polar crane that runs around a ring inside the dome to service the reactor was also 40 % faster, EDF said.

Second dome lift a few hours in on 17 July. Video frame: EDF Energy