Second nuclear reactor arrives at Hinkley Point C

The second nuclear reactor arrives at Combwich Wharf
Image: EDF

13 JAN 2026

SECOND NUCLEAR REACTOR ARRIVES AT HINKLEY POINT C

The twin nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C has taken delivery of its second reactor.

The first arrived in 2023 and is already installed and welded in place on Unit 1 of the power station.

The delivery of the second “reactor pressure vessel” is a major moment for the identical Unit 2.

Hinkley Point C’s second nuclear reactor has arrived in Somerset - image: EDF

The pressure vessel harnesses nuclear fission to make heat and steam for the world’s largest turbines. Each one will power around three million homes around the clock. The high strength steel cylinder weighs in at 500-tonnes and is just 13-metres long.

Work on Unit 1 has moved onto the fitting out of pipes, cables and equipment, while Unit 2 is focussed on the completion of its buildings following the successful dome lift in July last year.

Hinkley Point C’s second nuclear reactor arrives at Combwich on the River Parrett - image: EDF

Thanks to innovation and the experience gained from constructing Unit 1, teams are building Unit 2 20-30% faster, with prefabrication now approaching 60%.

The reactor was shipped from the Framatome Saint Marcel factory in France to Avonmouth Docks in Bristol, before being transported by barge to Combwich Wharf on the River Parrett in Somerset.

The final journey was a six hour road trip for four miles by a transporter to the construction site.

Meanwhile, Hinkley Point B, the nation’s first operating Advanced Gas cooled Reactor, has enetered a new phase of its life as it is confirmed to be fuel free.

Between 1976 and 2022 Hinkley Point B provided so much electricity it could meet the needs of every home from the tip of Cornwall to the top of Gloucestershire, for 33 years.

In August 2022 the power station’s generating life came to an end. Within weeks work started to remove all of the remaining nuclear fuel. The final fuel left the site on Friday, November 28. On January 12, 2026, the defueling job was officially completed as the Office for Nuclear Regulation confirmed Hinkley Point B was granted Fuel Free Verification status.

Des Uminski, station director, said: “This is a huge moment for the Hinkley Point B team. For our first 46 years we focussed on turning out the megawatts for the nation. In 2022 we shifted to turning out the fuel as we emptied our reactors. As of today, our focus is on the full, safe decommissioning of the site.

“I want to thank the teams here at Hinkley B who removed the fuel in just over three years. We knew this would be a challenge – but as usual our staff have risen to it and delivered brilliantly. We have had many years to prepare for this moment and the change that it means, but it is still a pivotal point in our site history and for our teams.”

When defueling started in September 2022 Hinkley Point B had to remove 616 stringers of nuclear fuel from the site. The fuel was packaged into specially engineered, transportable fuel flasks which were then moved by rail by Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS) to Sellafield for safe storage.

Both Sellafield and NTS are part of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) group, as is Nuclear Restoration Services, which will be responsible for the full decommissioning of the site when it transfers to the NDA in 2026.

David Peattie, NDA group CEO, said: “This has been a real team effort with strong collaboration displayed throughout between EDF and the NDA group. It’s a tremendous achievement for everyone involved, in particular the dedicated team at Hinkley Point B, who we look forward to welcoming into our group this year.

“The successful defueling of the first two AGR stations demonstrates we have the right capability, affirming the government’s confidence in us to expand our mission.We’re proud to utilise our unique expertise and resources, both to keep the nation safe and support the country’s energy security ambitions.”